PROP 203 WOULD WORSEN STATE'S DRUG CRISIS

Proposition 203 requires the Arizona Department of Public Safety to
distribute the "free" marijuana. Requiring law enforcement personnel to
sort, grade, and distribute marijuana is not an efficient use of our tax
dollars and takes needed resources off the streets.

Additionally, Proposition 203 requires DPS to distribute marijuana seized
from the drug dealers. What if a marijuana trafficker dipped the
marijuana in PCP or laced it with cocaine? Think of the risks involved in
redistributing seized marijuana.

Criminals convicted of marijuana possession will be freed from prison. If
someone is in prison for possession of marijuana, it was probably the
result of a downward plea agreement from the more serious crime (trafficking).

The illicit drug trafficking industry is a multimillion-dollar illegal
industry. These illegal assets will no longer be subject to seizure under
Proposition 203. In order to successfully dismantle drug trafficking
organizations, it is essential that law enforcement take away the resources
that these organizations will use to further their criminal drug
trafficking enterprises. Proposition 203 will reduce the effectiveness of
law enforcement in Arizona.

Why do we care? The Arizona Narcotics Officers Association is a
non-profit, member-run organization made up of local, state, tribal, and
federal law enforcement officers. ANOA members are currently assigned to
duties such as narcotics enforcement, gang units, street crimes units,
crime labs, major offender units, and neighborhood enforcement units. We
see the destructive effects of drug abuse on a daily basis, and we care
about our children; most of us are parents, too.

We have also posted information on our Web site at
www.aznarcoticsofficer.com. Statistics for 12th grade drug use were taken
from the "Monitoring the Future" study.

James Womack, President Arizona Narcotic Officers Association Tucson