MEDICAL POT MAY MAKE BALLOT

Marijuana reform advocates say patients in need of herbal pain
medication are closer to relief, as efforts increase in Arizona to
turn out support for a proposition in favor of the legalization of
medical marijuana.

To date, The Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project says it has
collected more than 130,000 voters' signatures -- approximately
23,000 short of the 153,000 voter signatures required to get the
proposition onto the November 2010 ballot.

"There are thousands of sick Arizonans who need medical marijuana for
pain relief," said Andrew Myers, campaign manager for the project.

"Currently, they have two choices: continue to suffer or go to the
criminal market to purchase illegal marijuana. We hope to change that."

The proposition aims to allow Arizonans with qualifying ailments to
receive limited amounts of medical marijuana from dispensaries
regulated by the state.

The Arizona Department of Health Services would issue permits to
these patients, granting them the choice between herbal and
pharmaceutical medication.

If the proposal makes the 2010 ballot and passes, the law will
protect the rights of doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to
patients who suffer from painful diseases from state and federal prosecution.

Mary MacKenzie, Treasurer for AZ-4-National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws, advocates ending medical marijuana
prohibition so that qualifying patients can receive the treatment they deserve.

"We have a lot of patients in need in Arizona and we don't need
doctors going to jail for doing their job," said MacKenzie.

However, opponents to the proposition believe that it is nothing more
than a step toward the decriminalization -- and eventually
legalization -- of recreational marijuana use.

Myers disagrees with this sentiment due to the proposition's stance
on upholding restrictions on such things as the public use of marijuana.

"The legalization of medical marijuana is our priority, not the
legalization for recreational use," Myers said. "If (legalization of
marijuana for personal use) was going to happen, it would have passed already."

Bill Godfrey, a medical marijuana user who recently lost part of his
foot due to diabetes, uses the drug as prescribed by his California doctor.

Godfrey supports Arizona taking the same measures that California
took in 1996 to legalize medical marijuana.

"When I take painkillers, they put me to sleep for 16 hours or make
me so groggy I can't remember to take my insulin," said Godfrey.
"Medical marijuana doesn't do that, it just relieves the pain and relaxes me."

This is not the first time legalization of medical marijuana has been
placed on the Arizona ballot. In 1996, Arizona voters passed
Proposition 200, which granted the use of medical marijuana to
qualifying patients while creating stiffer laws against personal use.
This proposition was later overturned by the Arizona Legislature
because it conflicted with federal laws.

In February 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the
federal government would no longer raid medical marijuana
dispensaries as long as they were in accordance with state law.

This is good news for patients who are eligible for medical marijuana
but cannot receive the medication due to conflicting state and federal laws.

As the deadline for gathering 153,000 voters' signatures by July 2010
approaches, Myers said he will, with the help of 450 petitioners,
continue to gather signatures from Arizona voters.

"We are very confident that this will work for patients, the
community and even law enforcement," said Myers. "It's a win-win
situation for everyone."