subject: AZ Prop 203 Doesn't Legalize Marijuana For All [print this page] AZ Prop 203 Doesn't Legalize Marijuana For All
Proposition 203 has become a hotly contested issue this election year. Some opponents cast it in a negative light as legalizing cannabis, while supporters claim it is only for the safe medical usage of the drug. I will try below to outline what precisely Prop 203 is about, what it would allow and what it wouldn't.
Proposition 203 is a "revision bill." California's Senate Bill 420 (Clever, California, Clever) legalized marijuana to be used for medical purposes. There's been much criticism lately, however, due to the wording in the senate bill which allowed pot to be used for "acute chronic pain." This opened the gateway for medical marijuana cards to be issued to just about anyone, and is been widely regarded as being abused by 97% (according to a local agency) of its consumers.
Prop 203 used some of the wording from the CA SB420, but alternatively shifted it to be considerably more prohibitive. Az Prop 203 would only allow cannabis for significant debilitating conditions such as cancer and AIDS. In this setting, marijuana will be allowed to buy on a limited basis (around 70g every 2 weeks) to stop trafficking, and would be essentially limited to a moderate in-home usage amount.
Proposition 203's supporters claim that it'll provide a necessary avenue of respite for individuals who are afflicted by these kinds of diseases. Cannabis is a "no hangover" drug, in contrast to prescription pills, and it has many therapeutic uses according to some research. Moreover, the specific wording in Prop 203 would prevent the "California" effect and keep medical marijuana out of the hands of those that would simply use it for recreation.
The opponents to this measure claim that this really is merely a gateway bill. They assert it is a first step to legalizing yet another drug that we don't need in today's world today. The proposition allows for 120 dispensaries to be opened around the state, which some claim is unnecessary. Furthermore, they claim that there are already plenty of legal prescription drugs to help remedy discomfort and anxiety in patients with incapacitating diseases; this is nothing more than an attempt by marijuana users to steamroll acceptance through the legislature
Whatever your stance, Prop 203 is a very specific thing and nothing else. It provides for a small amount of medical marijuana to be regulated and released to really sick people. It does not allow for personal use by recreational pot smokers, and does not decriminalize possession by those not specifically allowed by the bill.
If you are arrested for marijuana possession, speak to a criminal attorney today. A criminal lawyer can look at your case and see whether a compromise can be met because of the circumstances. Many marijuana possession cases are really simple to resolve, if you come with an experienced litigator in your corner.
If you have been arrested for marijuana possession in the greater metro area, contact a Phoenix criminal attorney immediately. A Phoenix criminal lawyer will represent you in court and will be a serious mitigating factor in whether or not you serve prison time. Protect yourself; hire a lawyer. Stay safe!
