Pubdate: Tue, 27 Aug 2002
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Elvia Diaz

MARIJUANA INITIATIVE FOES FIGHT 'LIE'

The state Department of Public Safety could end up distributing marijuana 
for free to virtually anyone who asks for it, opponents of a drug 
initiative said Monday.

"It puts DPS in the drug distribution business," said Joe Garagiola Jr., 
senior vice president and general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"This is a bad thing for Arizona," said Garagiola, chairman of Battleground 
Arizona, a committee formed to fight Proposition 203 in the November ballot.

The initiative, backed by University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, 
would require DPS to distribute up to 2 ounces of marijuana to each person 
who obtains a recommendation from a physician. A prescription would not be 
required. The measure would also decriminalize 2 ounces or less of the drug.

"Why should we give out pot for free?" asked Maricopa County Attorney Rick 
Romley during a Monday news conference.

Sam Vagenas, a proponent of the initiative, disagreed with Romley's 
characterization and said residents have the right to have a medical 
marijuana law after voting for it twice before. But he did not dispute that 
marijuana could be given free to patients who ask for it and that DPS would 
be required to distribute the drug.

While 2 ounces of marijuana may not sound like a huge amount, it would be 
enough to make 200 small cigarettes, said Romley as he stood against a 
banner accentuating opponents' campaign dubbed "Don't buy the lie."

He emptied two bags filled with cigarettes made of parsley to show how many 
can be made from the monthly dosage required to be distributed to the ill 
if Proposition 203 passes.

The real objective, Romley and Garagiola said, is to legalize drugs. 
Proponents argue the drug initiative not only could benefit people with 
debilitating medical conditions but could also save taxpayers money by 
treating offenders instead of jailing them.

A 1996 law allowed marijuana to be used for medical purposes if they get a 
doctor's prescription. But state lawmakers effectively nixed the practice 
and thus created the need for a new measure, Vagenas said.

"We don't want to decriminalize marijuana as he (Romley) claims," Vagenas 
said. "Our real interest is medical marijuana."

For the fourth time, Romley challenged Sperling to a debate.

Vagenas said his camp would not agree to anything until Romley turns over 
all public documents about his involvement with the proposal.
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