MARIJUANA INITIATIVE FOES FIGHT 'LIE'

The state Department of Public Safety could end up distributing marijuana
for free to virtually anyone who asks for it, opponents of a drug
initiative said Monday.

"It puts DPS in the drug distribution business," said Joe Garagiola Jr.,
senior vice president and general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"This is a bad thing for Arizona," said Garagiola, chairman of Battleground
Arizona, a committee formed to fight Proposition 203 in the November ballot.

The initiative, backed by University of Phoenix founder John Sperling,
would require DPS to distribute up to 2 ounces of marijuana to each person
who obtains a recommendation from a physician. A prescription would not be
required. The measure would also decriminalize 2 ounces or less of the drug.

"Why should we give out pot for free?" asked Maricopa County Attorney Rick
Romley during a Monday news conference.

Sam Vagenas, a proponent of the initiative, disagreed with Romley's
characterization and said residents have the right to have a medical
marijuana law after voting for it twice before. But he did not dispute that
marijuana could be given free to patients who ask for it and that DPS would
be required to distribute the drug.

While 2 ounces of marijuana may not sound like a huge amount, it would be
enough to make 200 small cigarettes, said Romley as he stood against a
banner accentuating opponents' campaign dubbed "Don't buy the lie."

He emptied two bags filled with cigarettes made of parsley to show how many
can be made from the monthly dosage required to be distributed to the ill
if Proposition 203 passes.

The real objective, Romley and Garagiola said, is to legalize drugs.
Proponents argue the drug initiative not only could benefit people with
debilitating medical conditions but could also save taxpayers money by
treating offenders instead of jailing them.

A 1996 law allowed marijuana to be used for medical purposes if they get a
doctor's prescription. But state lawmakers effectively nixed the practice
and thus created the need for a new measure, Vagenas said.

"We don't want to decriminalize marijuana as he (Romley) claims," Vagenas
said. "Our real interest is medical marijuana."

For the fourth time, Romley challenged Sperling to a debate.

Vagenas said his camp would not agree to anything until Romley turns over
all public documents about his involvement with the proposal.