Pubdate: Wed, 6 Oct 2010
Source: Camp Verde Bugle, The (AZ)
Copyright: 2010 Western News&Info, Inc.
Contact: 
http://campverdebugleonline.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=1
Website: http://campverdebugleonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4914
Author: Jody Fanning
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?273 (Proposition 203)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

PROP 203 DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR ARIZONA

In Arizona it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle, aircraft or
motorboat with the presence of marijuana components in your system -
that is unless Prop 203 passes.

If Prop 203 passes, medical marijuana cardholders will be able to test
positive for marijuana and still drive a car, fly a plane or operate a
boat. There is no measurement for impairment with marijuana such as
there is for alcohol (BAC).

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and other studies,
the negative effects on memory, learning and motor coordination can
last 30 days or more. This means that people may assume they are safe
to drive or operate an airplane or heavy machinery, even when they are
still mildly or moderately impaired. Arizona law enforcement will have
their hands tied. Marijuana supporters state that traffic deaths have
not increased in other medical marijuana states. This is just not
true. A recent study in California revealed that fatal crashes
involving marijuana increased 100 percent during the five-year period
following passage of medical marijuana.

Proponents of the proposition would have you believe that medical
marijuana is just for the seriously ill. Yet, statistics show that in
all other states with medical marijuana only 2-3 percent of the
cardholders suffer from cancer or other debilitating illnesses. The
remaining 97-98 percent are ages 17 to 35 who report pain as their
reason for being a cardholder.

Citizens of Arizona should be very concerned. According to Prop 203,
schools or employers cannot discriminate in hiring a medical marijuana
cardholder. Thus, passage of Prop 203 would mean that school bus
drivers or airplane pilots could test positive for marijuana while
operating a school bus or airplane.

This Proposition just does not make sense for Arizona. I urge you to
vote NO on Prop 203.

Jody Fanning

Chief of Police

Cottonwood
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake