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| Pot Battle Looming for State |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 03, 2002 at 11:56:43 PT By Ashley Bach, The Arizona Republic Source: Arizona Republic 
A headstrong politician and an idealistic billionaire are likely to face off on the state ballot this fall, but they won't be fighting for elected office. Their battle is over marijuana.Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and University of Phoenix founder John Sperling are each working on drug-policy initiatives for the November general election, but they have very different views on how the state should treat people caught with pot. Sperling and his supporters are gathering signatures for an initiative that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Instead of facing a Class 6 felony, anyone caught with 2 ounces or less of the drug could be charged only with a civil violation, punishable by no more than $250. The proposal would also allow marijuana for medical purposes, with the supplies coming from Department of Public Safety contraband. Romley, on the other hand, wants to overrule that plan by tweaking one of the billionaire's initiatives that was already passed into law. Under Romley's plan, judges could send first- and second-time drug offenders to jail if they refuse treatment. His proposal was given preliminary approval by the state Senate on Thursday and will go on the ballot if it passes in a final vote next week. If voters pass both proposals, the one with the most votes will become law. Sperling and two other investors, George Soros and Peter Lewis, have funded 19 initiatives in states across the country, each designed to loosen drug laws. And the trio has lost only twice. In 1996, they passed Proposition 200 in Arizona, which says that first- and second-time drug offenders can't be sent to jail and allows marijuana for medical use. Two years later, voters approved a similar law after the Legislature voided most of the original measure. Romley says he watched Sperling's success with frustration. By law, his office can't pay for television ads or circulate petitions, so he had little recourse against his opponent's deep pockets. In 1998, Sperling's group spent more than $1 million to get the 1996 law reinstated, while Romley says he spent $35,000 from private donations. "It's very hard to compete with these very effective ads," Romley said. "It (my measure) is going to force them to debate this a little more." Sperling referred questions to Sam Vagenas, spokesman for the People Have Spoken, the Phoenix-based group that campaigns for Sperling's initiatives. Romley has long opposed any efforts to reform the way drug offenders are punished, despite what voters say, Vagenas said. "This is another assault on the will of the people," he said. "That's what is at issue here." Both sides differ not just on marijuana, but on how well Proposition 200 has worked for drug offenders. They both say they believe in treatment for first-time offenders, but Romley and some judges say that if people refuse treatment, they're often let free. Twenty-one percent of offenders convicted under the law in Maricopa County never show up for treatment, Romley said. Vagenas cites an Arizona Supreme Court study last year that says offenders under Proposition 200 are slightly less likely to drop out of treatment than other probationers. The battle is likely to heat up if Romley's bill is passed next week. Vagenas said Sperling and his supporters will campaign aggressively against the competing measure, while still gathering the 101,762 signatures needed to get the initiative on the ballot. Romley said he wants to be vocal in the media and raise private money. The county attorney is deluded if he doesn't think voters want looser penalties for having drugs, Vagenas said. "I believe they believe this," he said. "And if it takes a third time to do this, so be it." Romley said he wants Sperling himself to enter the fray. "I hope I can get John Sperling on one side of the table and me on the other side, and let's debate what's the right thing to do," he said. Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Related Articles: Big Bong Theory - Phoenix New Times Threesome Fund Growing War On The War On Drugs Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #3 posted by idbsne1 on May 03, 2002 at 19:42:04 PT |
| I love you guys.....lol!!!!!!!!! idbsne1 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by BGreen on May 03, 2002 at 14:39:34 PT |
| Every time a cannabis user goes to "treatment," a real drug addict loses an available bed and could die. If you want to kill them, just freakin' shoot them. Stop using the cannabis user as your weapon of choice. The tens of millions of people who have smoked cannabis don't all need treatment. Only a jackass could believe that. Oh, wait a minute, only jackasses DO believe that. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 03, 2002 at 13:29:49 PT:
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| It's almost comical in a way... First, they try to intimidate you. When they learn it doesn't work, they try to find dirt on you for blackmail purposes. When that doesn't work, they ridicule you. When that doesn't work, they try to ignore your existence. Finally, when they realize that all their prior actions have failed...then they come to the table. Please, antis; by all means, if you wish to flaunt your venomous ignorance for all to see, be my guest. [ Post Comment ] |
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