An Arizona measure to legalize marijuana and 115 other drugs for medical use passed in 1996 but was thwarted the following year when legislators barred doctors from prescribing the drugs without federal approval. A measure on the ballot backs the Legislature's bill. If it fails, the initiative Arizonans passed two years ago would take effect. This time around, opponents say the safeguards written into the 1998 initiatives are still insufficient. They note the measures would keep police from seizing or destroying marijuana and growing equipment until users have a chance to prove they had it legally.
Opponents also protest the funding behind most of the initiative campaigns.
The group, based in Los Angeles, is assisting all of the campaigns except for those in Arizona and the District of Columbia. I can't believe the people of this state would be essentially bullied into thinking that this was good policy. The Arizona initiative that would back legislative dismantling of legalization seems to be trailing. This demonstrates the fragility of the hold that the prohibitionists have on the public. It is also remarkable the degree to which the politicians ignore the public support for medical marijuana.