Pubdate:  22 March 1998
Source: The Tribune (AZ)
Contact:  Kris Axtman - The Tribune

STATES EYE ARIZONA DRUG POLICY 

In Oregon, marijuana is sold at liquor stores.

In Florida, drug dealers are not prosecuted.

In Nevada, kids get high on heroin prescribed by a doctor.

That could be the future if voters approve initiatives on November ballots
in other states around the nation. Frightened lawmakers and law enforcement
officials are turning to Arizona for help in fighting efforts to legalize
marijuana and other illicit drugs for medicinal purposes.

"They are going to have a real tough battle, there is no question at all,"
said Maricopa County Attorney Richard Romley, who championed effects
against Arizona's Proposition 200.

That proposition, the first of its kind to pass, took effect in 1996 and
allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana and other Schedule 1 drugs-such as
heroin, PCP and LSD-to ill patients.

Romley said he has received dozens of calls from states such as Alaska,
Colorado, Florida, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, that are facing
similar propositions in November.

"They've been interested in the Arizona experience. They want to know, not
just how we approached it, but to give a bit of insight as to what is
really occurring here," he said. "And since the passage of Proposition 200,
I think we have a little bit more of a background of exactly what the true
objective is."

That objective, Romley believes, is the legalization of drugs - and, in
speeches around the country, he is warning people to keep their eyes open.

"Medical marijuana is what I would call the Trojan horse for legalizing all
drugs," he said. "And it's an easy message to sell because Americans are
very compassionate people. Who doesn't want to provide any medicine that
will help he sick and the suffering?"

Sam Vagenas, an Arizona campaign consultant for drug policy reform who
worked for the state's effort, believes of the 10 states working on similar
propositions, more than half will make it on the November ballot.

"We are certainly helping to raise money and lend technical support to
encourage these other efforts," he said.

That worries cash-poor opponents in other states who fear a glut of costly
ads.

"In Arizona and California, no one had any money to go up against these
ads." said Betty Sembler, founder of Florida's Save Our Society From Drugs.

Some Arizonans counter that the drive had a legitimate purpose.

Mesa resident Josh Burner, who is suffering with terminal throat cancer,
claims marijuana helps him deal with his disease like no other drug.

"I get so tired of people saying this is legalization of marijuana. It's no
more legalization than anything else you need a prescription for," he said.

Burner said he has a prescription for marijuana, but has nowhere to fill
it. Federal law requires FDA approval of a drug before it can be prescribed
- - something none of the Schedule 1 drugs have yet been granted.