Proposition
200
7/24/97
The following report is based upon a news release from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). They are the oldest and largest organization fighting for reform of our nation's marijuana laws. You can find them on the web at http://www.natlnorml.org or e-mail them at [email protected]. Upon the passage in November of Arizona's Prop. 200, allowing for medical access to marijuana, and other drugs, at the discretion of doctors, and the elimination of jail time for most non-violent drug offenders, Arizona officials claimed, on the floor of Congress, that their constituents had been "duped". This despite the fact that the initiative passed by an overwhelming 2-1 margin. So, in an effort to remedy Arizonans' apparent inability to govern themselves, the legislature gutted the provisions of the proposition earlier this year. But wait!! Word in from Arizona is that citizens of that state, in an effort led by a group called "The People Have Spoken," this week turned in over 200,000 signatures (more than twice the number required,) which, once verified (which will take about a month) will put the legislature's action on hold, thus allowing Prop. 200 to take effect, pending a citizen vote in November of '98. Upon further review, it seems to DRCNet that the people who were duped were Arizona officials who believed that it was more important to toe the federal government's line on the Drug War than to listen to their own constituents. Considering the margin by which Prop. 200 passed, we fail to see the wisdom behind questioning the intellectual capacity of the majority here. Perhaps this show of affirmation, followed by success in November '98, will serve as a wake-up call to elected officials around the nation. The winds of change are blowing. Be careful how you set your sails, or you just might get swept aside.
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