Pubdate: Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2016 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Mary Jane Doe

IS ARIZONA THE NEXT STATE TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?

If You Don't Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard, Then Probably Not

Last week, I wrote about the need for research into the positive 
effects of marijuana. I chose this as my first topic because of how 
important I believe it to be. If I had to list in order of importance 
that would be issue 1A and issue 1B would be the decriminalization of 
marijuana.

This is another area where progress has been made, but there is still 
much work ahead.

Many states are hoping to have votes on marijuana laws this election. 
Our state is no exception. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like 
Alcohol, a ballot-initiative backed by the Washington-based Marijuana 
Policy Project, has the same formula led to legalizing weed in 
Colorado. MPP has helped states lobby for and pass reform of 
Marijuana laws since founded in 1995.

The group filed a ballot initiative with the Arizona Secretary of 
State last April. They have since been collecting signatures for the 
initiative to make the 2016 ballot.

According to mpp.org's last update, the campaign had collected over 
125,000 of the 230,000 voter signatures the campaign wants to get. A 
total of 150,642 valid signatures of registered voters are needed by 
July. Valid signatures are key, this is why MPP has a goal of 230,000 
signatures. "Signatures are often invalidated because they are 
illegible or because the signer provided incomplete or inaccurate 
information," MPP said. (Visit their website for more information on 
where to sign a petition if you haven't added your signature to the 
initiative.)

Make sure your voice is not only heard but gets the chance to be heard.

This is my plea to anyone who supports MPP's campaign or one similar 
to it. There are currently 11 sponsored bills relating to marijuana 
laws trying to make the ballot, according to mpp.org.

Arizona's vote to legalize medical marijuana in 2010, or Prop 203, 
should be reminder needed to make sure that we all exercise our right to vote.

Prop 203, another ballot campaign backed by MPP, narrowly passed by 
less than half of a percent, or less than 4,500 votes, six years ago.

California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada all also have similar MPP 
supported ballot initiatives for 2016.

MPP intends to use the legislative process to pass similar bills in 
Vermont and Rhode Island. If passed, it would be the first time a 
state legalized marijuana through the legislative process.

Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire and Texas are also states that MPP 
plans to target.

If you are like me, then this all sounds like steps in the right 
direction, but the most important thing is that Arizona takes 
advantage of these initiatives.

Polls taken across the state show how close votes on marijuana will be.

A poll from the Behavior Research Center last June showed 53 percent 
favor legal personal possession of marijuana. Because of the margin 
of error this may not be a majority.

This November we will be electing a new president and history shows 
that voter turnout is much higher when this is the case. Let's make 
sure we are part of that turnout.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom