Group Wants Medical Pot on Ballot in 2010


Daniel Scarpinato
April 22, 2009
Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX — A doctor's note will allow Arizonans to buy marijuana — or even grow the drug in their home — if a national group seeking voter approval gets its way next year.
The group has drafted a measure they hope to get on the 2010 ballot that would legalize medical marijuana here and set up a system of non-profit "dispensaries."
Supporters say marijuana use has great benefits for people suffering from serious illnesses ranging from cancer to HIV. But critics have long argued legalizing medical use is a step towards full legalization of a drug they see as a "gateway" to more serious addictions.
If the backers get their measure on next year's ballot, it will mark the fourth time since 1996 Arizona voters have a chance to weigh-in on the issue.
"It's the right thing to do," said Andrew Myers, the Arizona campaign manager hired by the national marijuana Policy Project. "It provides a level of mercy to these people who are suffering and dying."
Organizers have yet to submit draft language to the Secretary of State's Office. But Myers said the initiative would say if someone were to get a "recommendation" from a licensed physician they could not be prosecuted in the state for marijuana possession.
There's two ways patients could get their hands on the pot: Either at the non-profit dispensaries, or if they're 25 miles away from one, they could grow the drug in their own home.
Those using the drug would still be violating federal law — which is why doctors can't give a prescription like other drugs — but on the state level, it would be legal.
"We shouldn't be interfering with the doctor-patient relationship," Myers said.
Arizonans have showed a willingness to legalize the practice for medical purposes before. In 1996, voters approved medical marijuana — only to see the Legislature essentially repeal the law afterward.
Two years later, voters re-ratified the '96 measure. But despite that, doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug because of the threat of losing their license.
A 2002 initiative with a provision to reduce the penalty for possession of up to two ounces to a fine was rejected by voters.
This time supporters say they've worked out the legal issues by avoiding the mention of prescriptions. And there are other elements in the measure to win voters over. The state could only issue licenses for 120 dispensaries, none of which could be within 500 feet of a school.
"We're sensitive to the public's concerns about these facilities," said Myers, adding of the 13 states that have legalized medical marijuana, none have legalized it for recreational use.
But some are still skeptical.
State Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu, says he doesn't have a problem with people using marijuana for medical purposes.
But he said the dispensaries — similar to a system used in California — are prone to abuse.
"I think that's actually how they abuse it," Gould said — although he says doctors prescribe other drugs that are more addictive and dangerous than pot.
Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, says even if the move is a step toward legalization, she's not threatened, pointing to some of the greater societal effects she sees from alcohol.
A champion of legalizing assisted suicide, Lopez said the state shouldn't try to be "medical arbiters."
"marijuana has been very helpful for people to deal with pain," she said.
The group has until July 2010 to gather more than 150,000 signatures.

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Group Wants Medical Pot on Ballot in 2010


Daniel Scarpinato
April 22, 2009
Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX — A doctor's note will allow Arizonans to buy marijuana — or even grow the drug in their home — if a national group seeking voter approval gets its way next year.
The group has drafted a measure they hope to get on the 2010 ballot that would legalize medical marijuana here and set up a system of non-profit "dispensaries."
Supporters say marijuana use has great benefits for people suffering from serious illnesses ranging from cancer to HIV. But critics have long argued legalizing medical use is a step towards full legalization of a drug they see as a "gateway" to more serious addictions.
If the backers get their measure on next year's ballot, it will mark the fourth time since 1996 Arizona voters have a chance to weigh-in on the issue.
"It's the right thing to do," said Andrew Myers, the Arizona campaign manager hired by the national marijuana Policy Project. "It provides a level of mercy to these people who are suffering and dying."
Organizers have yet to submit draft language to the Secretary of State's Office. But Myers said the initiative would say if someone were to get a "recommendation" from a licensed physician they could not be prosecuted in the state for marijuana possession.
There's two ways patients could get their hands on the pot: Either at the non-profit dispensaries, or if they're 25 miles away from one, they could grow the drug in their own home.
Those using the drug would still be violating federal law — which is why doctors can't give a prescription like other drugs — but on the state level, it would be legal.
"We shouldn't be interfering with the doctor-patient relationship," Myers said.
Arizonans have showed a willingness to legalize the practice for medical purposes before. In 1996, voters approved medical marijuana — only to see the Legislature essentially repeal the law afterward.
Two years later, voters re-ratified the '96 measure. But despite that, doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug because of the threat of losing their license.
A 2002 initiative with a provision to reduce the penalty for possession of up to two ounces to a fine was rejected by voters.
This time supporters say they've worked out the legal issues by avoiding the mention of prescriptions. And there are other elements in the measure to win voters over. The state could only issue licenses for 120 dispensaries, none of which could be within 500 feet of a school.
"We're sensitive to the public's concerns about these facilities," said Myers, adding of the 13 states that have legalized medical marijuana, none have legalized it for recreational use.
But some are still skeptical.
State Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu, says he doesn't have a problem with people using marijuana for medical purposes.
But he said the dispensaries — similar to a system used in California — are prone to abuse.
"I think that's actually how they abuse it," Gould said — although he says doctors prescribe other drugs that are more addictive and dangerous than pot.
Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, says even if the move is a step toward legalization, she's not threatened, pointing to some of the greater societal effects she sees from alcohol.
A champion of legalizing assisted suicide, Lopez said the state shouldn't try to be "medical arbiters."
"marijuana has been very helpful for people to deal with pain," she said.
The group has until July 2010 to gather more than 150,000 signatures.

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sorry for the double post

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Op-ed: Ariz. Could Make Medical marijuana Reality


Ronald Fraser
May 7, 2009
The East Valley Tribune (AZ)

At long last, policymakers in Washington have begun to draw a line between illicit drug use and the legitimate use of drugs as medicine. In March, President Barack Obama's attorney general announced the federal government will no longer prosecute medical marijuana clinics that operate in compliance with state laws. This means lawmakers in Phoenix are now free to decide - without interference from Washington - if marijuana will fill a medical niche in Arizona.
Thirteen states have already removed criminal penalties for the use of medical marijuana and actively regulate how, with a medical doctor's recommendation, marijuana is made available for patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, severe pain, glaucoma, epilepsy and other chronic conditions. But until now, Washington has disregarded these state laws. Since California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, for example, federal agents have raided more than 100 marijuana distribution centers there.
Washington's first step
The first step has been taken with Washington's tacit acknowledgement that closing down state-regulated marijuana clinics is a misuse of taxpayers' money and harmful to Americans coping with serious illnesses. Many thousands of ill people attest that smoking, vaporizing or orally ingesting marijuana relieves pain, nausea and other symptoms far more effectively than Marinol, a pharmaceutically available synthetic version of marijuana.
While the federal government still officially maintains - contrary to solid medical evidence - that marijuana has no medicinal value, at least it has pledged not to raid medical marijuana facilities that are sanctioned by state law.
Arizona's Next Step?
According to the marijuana Policy Project, a Washington-based advocate for legalizing medical marijuana, Arizona currently has a medical marijuana law on the books that allows patients to possess marijuana if it is obtained through a valid prescription. But under the law there is no legal supply of marijuana to fill such prescriptions.
In addition, a 2007 survey by the marijuana Policy Project asked registered Arizona voters if they supported an initiative to "allow Arizona residents with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes, as long as their physician approves." Sixty-eight percent of the respondents said they supported such an initiative.
Washington's new medical marijuana policy gives Arizona the freedom to exercise its historic role as the primary watchdog for the health and welfare of its citizens. Whether or not Arizona patients will be given greater access to medical marijuana is now up to the state Legislature or the voters.
Other Medicinal Drugs
marijuana is not the only targeted medical drug. In all 50 states, federal raids can still close down pain clinics and arrest pain management physicians who prescribe large doses of opioids - highly effective, legal painkillers made from opium or synthetics with the properties of opiate narcotics.
Dr. Joel Hochman, director of the National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain in Houston, says the drug-war hysteria is making it too risky for many doctors to accept patients in chronic pain and that, with help from the media, federal raids on so-called "pill mills" paint a false picture that the streets are awash in drugs carelessly handed out by unprincipled doctors.
Instead, he claims, these clinics provide last-resort care to largely uninsured or under-insured blue-collar and other limited-income workers, many with work-related injuries, who can only afford a five-minute visit at high-volume, low-cost, low-profit clinics.
To stay in business these clinics must see 60 to 100 patients each day. With this level of traffic, doctors can make errors and patients can lie about their ailments _ making the clinics easy targets for federal agents. But, since these clinics provide valuable medical services, Hochman says law enforcement polices are misdirected.
His bottom line is: "Wake up America. The dope lords are making billions. The little pain clinics in the strip shopping centers sure aren't."
Instead of getting drugs off the streets, Hochman adds that closing down these pain clinics will "drive patients into the streets, seeking relief from their suffering. Their choices become: score hydrocodone off the street; score heroin off the street; drown their pain with alcohol. No one can tolerate unrelieved pain."
What to do? "End opiophobia and fantasy-driven public policies," Hochman said, "and establish publicly supported clinics so every suffering person can get relief. Confront the fact that law enforcement agencies and prisons are all strung out on the drug prohibition laws and need to be brought back to reality."
Here is a rare opportunity for elected officials in Arizona and in Washington to take a long hard look at how harsh drug laws are undermining medical care in America. For the millions of people desperately coping with chronic ailments, let's not waste it.

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the campaign will be starting this week if you would like and information please sign up for email updates here ...
http://stoparrestingpatients.org/take-action

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Sign up to gather signatures if your in your a voter in the State of Arizona!!
they can use all the support they can get Donate! any amount will help!
Get involved!!! ...
http://stoparrestingpatients.org/take-action

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So how are things going so far?

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"You see that's what I think is such a terrible, terrible betrayal, the trust that people have in government" Ralph Steadman

I wonder how much of this had to do with Playboy Mansion Party campaign...

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speaks louder than words.
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haha money money money

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dude i live in az and was looking around for more info on the medical marijuana bill and found this what do i need to do to help out we are going to do a car was to get money to donate whats else can i do to make az a little more green