Pubdate: Mon, 12 Aug 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA INITIATIVE QUALIFIES FOR ARIZONA BALLOT

A drug-policy initiative that would decriminalize possession of small
amounts of marijuana will appear on Arizona's general-election ballot, state
officials announced Tuesday.

A sampling of submitted voter signatures indicated that they included
164,274 signatures, or 161.5 percent of the minimum needed, the Secretary of
State's office.

Proposition 203 would make possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana a
civil violation punishable by a fine of no more than $250. The fine could be
waived by taking a drug education class.

Besides reducing penalties for marijuana possession from a low-level felony,
the law would allow doctors to recommend, rather than prescribe, marijuana
for qualifying patients. Doctors who want to prescribe marijuana under
Arizona's 1996 law have been discouraged by threats of federal criminal
charges.

Also, the state Department of Public Safety would be required to distribute
confiscated marijuana for free to those who receive doctors'
recommendations.

In addition, the proposal would expand existing laws that generally bar
prison or jail sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. It would bar judges
from including jail time as a probation condition.