MARIJUANA INITIATIVE QUALIFIES FOR BALLOT

A medical marijuana initiative has made it to the November ballot amid
claims that Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley continues to misuse his
office to fight the proposal.

Proposition 203, which would require a state agency to provide marijuana to
the ill and decriminalize small amounts of the drug, has enough signatures
to qualify for the ballot, the Secretary of State's Office said Monday.

Sam Vagenas, who is backing the ballot initiative, said Romley is using his
county attorney's Web site to oppose the measure. State law prohibits
Romley from using county resources to promote a ballot initiative.

Last month, Romley admitted using county stationary to challenge John
Sperling, the chief sponsor of Proposition 203, to a debate. He has
reimbursed the county $2.89 for the stationery, said Romley's spokesman,
Bill FitzGerald.

But there is nothing illegal in posting news releases out of his office
because discussing drug policy issues is part of Romley's responsibilities,
FitzGerald said.

Romley is backing Proposition 302, which would let judges send first- and
second-time drug offenders to jail if they refuse treatment.