ARIZONA SHERIFFS OPPOSE PROP. 203

Editor:

Arizona's sheriffs, known nationwide for taking strong action to
maintain law and order, have come together to take a stand against
Prop 203 in Arizona. Prop 203 seeks to legalize marijuana for
allegedly medical purposes. Similar propositions have passed in other
states with disastrous results. Instead of being a controlled form of
medicine, marijuana floods the state that legalizes it and becomes
readily available through grow-houses and independent distributors.

We urge the voters of Arizona to vote "No" on Prop 203. As law
enforcement officers, our mission is to keep our State as safe as
possible. Prop 203 would endanger the good people of Arizona by
increasing the amount of illegal drugs in our State. We believe Prop
203 will lead to increased crime and vehicle accidents and will drain
the resources of law enforcement agencies.

Proponents of Prop 203 will claim it is only about medically
necessary marijuana, yet contained in the details of the language are
the following:

. Legalizes medical marijuana for kids (any age) who have written
permission from their parents or guardian

. You can pilot an airplane, navigate a watercraft and drive an
automobile and cannot be charged with DUI if you only have marijuana
metabolites in your system and you are a medical marijuana cardholder

. Employers in the State of Arizona cannot discriminate against
someone who tests positive for marijuana (if they are a medical
marijuana cardholder). The employer cannot terminate or discipline
the employee even if the employer operates a drug-free workplace.
There is no exception for public safety officials

. The proposition clearly removes the authority of the police, the
prosecutors, the courts, the medical licensing boards and employers
from having any authority or oversight of this industry

If a cardholder lives more than 25 miles from a marijuana dispensary
they are authorized to "grow their own" at their residence. (rural
areas of the state will be inundated with people growing their own).

Prop 203 is the first step in a well-organized, well-financed
campaign to legalize marijuana. Don't allow this out-of-state
interest to gain a foothold in Arizona. All of Arizona's Sheriffs are
united in urging Arizona voters to vote "No" on Prop 203.

Arizona Sheriffs Association

Paul R. Babeu, President- Arizona Sheriffs Association, Pinal County Sheriff

Steve Waugh, Vice-President- Arizona Sheriffs Association, Yavapai
County Sheriff

Kelly C. Clark, Navajo County Sheriff

John R. Armer, Gila County Sheriff

Tom Sheahan, Mohave County Sheriff

Steven N. Tucker, Greenlee County Sheriff

Don Lowery, La Paz County Sheriff

Ralph E. Ogden, Yuma County Sheriff

Tony Estrada, Santa Cruz County Sheriff

Joe Dedman, Apache County Sheriff

Larry A. Dever, Cochise County Sheriff

William B. Pribil, Coconino County Sheriff

Preston J. Allred, Graham County Sheriff

Clarence Dupnik, Pima County Sheriff

Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Sheriff