cannabisnews.com: AZ Leaders 'Slow on The Draw' in Fighting MMJ
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AZ Leaders 'Slow on The Draw' in Fighting MMJ
Posted by CN Staff on July 20, 2011 at 17:37:56 PT
By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services 
Source: East Valley Tribune
Tempe -- Arizona might not have a medical marijuana law today had police chiefs spoken out against it, Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday. But she conceded later that perhaps she was guilty of the same neglect.Speaking to the annual conference of the Arizona Chiefs of Police here, the governor chided the chiefs for what she said was their silence on Proposition 203 when it was being debated before the November election. The measure allows individuals with a doctor’s recommendation to buy marijuana and state-licensed dispensaries to legally sell the drug.
It was approved by a margin of just 4,340 votes out of more than 1.7 million ballots cast.“I believe we all have a duty to speak with a unified voice on irresponsible ballot measures that jeopardize public safety,” the governor told the chiefs.“Proposition 203 ... is a good example where a unified voice might have prevented passage of this dreadful situation,” she continued. “So now, here we are.”The chiefs’ association did take a public position against the measure, as did various county attorneys and sheriffs. But there was little organized opposition to the well-funded campaign.“Everybody should have been down there, looking at this piece of legislation and talking to people and explaining to them what the ramifications were,” Brewer explained after her speech. She said everyone was “a little slow on the draw.”“We didn’t realize it was going to get that kind of momentum,” the governor continued. “There should have been a lot more exposure.”Asked if she should have gone on the road and spoken out against the measure, she responded, “probably so.”So where was she?“Unfortunately, things were busy, I was busy,” said Brewer, who was campaigning to keep her job. “The bottom line is that once we realized that it was gaining such momentum, I stepped right up.”One of the things Brewer has done since the measure passed was direct state Department of Health Services Director Will Humble not to even accept applications for dispensary licenses.The governor said she took that action after Dennis Burke, the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, sent a letter to Humble saying that compliance with a state medical marijuana law did not immunize individuals from being prosecuted under federal drug laws. And Burke said while prosecuting patients is a low priority, the same cannot be said for those who sell the drug commercially — and those who facilitate its sale.Brewer said she feared that could leave state employees who process dispensary applications liable.The state has, however, continued to process applications from individual users, with more than 7,500 approved so far. And because Brewer has blocked dispensaries from opening, those users have the right to grow up to 12 marijuana plants at any time.Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ)Author: Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services Published: July 20, 2011Copyright: 2011 East Valley TribuneContact: forum aztrib.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/nuJdJTpNWebsite: http://www.eastvalleytribune.comCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by Vincent on July 21, 2011 at 13:19:25 PT:
"Governor" Brewer?
Immigration? Birtherism? Cop-loving-ism? Religious extremism? And now this. Y'know something? This "governor" (lower-case lettering on purpose)has absolutely NO saving grace whatsoever!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on July 21, 2011 at 10:19:37 PT
What is wrong with her?
"Dreadful situation"?I think it's a "Dreadful situation" when there is a completely non poisonous herb with great medicinal value to people and the "Dreadful" prohibitionists bar it's use with criminality and cruel law enforcement. The fact that cannabis's, apparently, most hideous side effect can be a bit of euphoria, actually feeling a bit better... just wipes the prohibitionists out is so mysterious. For reason's sake...why?Obviously, Brewer doesn't have the judgement to know a "Dreadful situation" when she sees it.
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on July 21, 2011 at 10:07:05 PT
Brewer, "slow on the draw"
sigh,... more dumb, gun play references from Arizona. She should wear spurs so everyone can hear her jingle jangle as she moseys along.At least she is publicly admitting her disdain for democratic process and the will of the people. Though she apparently sees nothing wrong with that.I never imagined I could have less respect for Governor Brewer, and then she goes and surprises me.
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Comment #2 posted by NoCowLevel on July 21, 2011 at 04:51:23 PT
 Greenmed
Well yeah, but violent crime doesn't pay as much as harassing cannabis users.
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Comment #1 posted by greenmed on July 20, 2011 at 20:29:59 PT
Gov. Jan Brewer
seems like a hypocritical bully. The police chiefs know where to put their resources - against violent crime, not harassing medical patients and their providers.
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