Pubdate: Thu, 23 Sep 1999
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 1999, The Arizona Republic.
Contact:  http://www.azcentral.com/news/
Forum: http://www.azcentral.com/pni-bin/WebX?azc
Author: Associated Press

DRUG INITIATIVE BACKERS WANT PENALTIES REDUCED

Backers of an initiative that allowed Arizona doctors to prescribe
marijuana and other illicit drugs are considering a new drive to get voters
to reduce penalties for possessing marijuana.

But first they want to gauge Arizonans' receptiveness to new drug laws.

"We're like politicians - driven by the polls," said John Sperling, the
millionaire University of Phoenix founder who has funded medical drug
campaigns in six states. "If any item on that ballot doesn't have 55 to 60
percent (support), it don't have legs. It'll be dropped." Among the issues
initiative supporters are considering for the 2000 ballot are: asking
voters to reduce marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor;
expanding drug treatment programs; and providing a legal source of medical
marijuana.

Under the act approved by voters in 1996, sick people can possess marijuana
and illegal drugs with a prescription. The act is silent on where and from
whom sick people get the drug.

Officials who oppose decriminalization said they're not surprised
initiative backers would push to further legitimize illicit drugs.

"Their objective in the long term wasn't just to medicalize drugs," said
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, who crusaded against the 1996 act
"And that wasn't just marijuana, it was all of them that they wanted to
decriminalize."

Romley and other conservative politicians objected to the 1996 Drug
Medicalization, Prevention and Control Act in part because it was a
grab-bag of policies.

The act legalized any drug for a sick Arizonan who had two doctors'
prescriptions. It also set up treatment and education programs, and
stiffened penalties for those who commit crimes while on drugs.

The Legislature thought Arizonans didn't understand the act when they
approved it by a 2-1 margin. So in 1998, lawmakers tried to get voters to
repeal it. Voters just reaffirmed the law.
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