cannabisnews.com: Decrim. Efforts Begin To Take Shape In Arizona





Decrim. Efforts Begin To Take Shape In Arizona
Posted by FoM on October 15, 1999 at 08:35:05 PT
NORML's Weekly Update News
Source: NORML
Oct. 14, 1999, Phoenix, AZ: Marijuana decriminalization efforts in Arizona stepped up on Wednesday when an initiative for the 2000 ballot was filed with the state attorney general. 
The initiative, financed by the backers of the successful 1996 medical marijuana initiative in Arizona, would establish a $500 maximum fine, rather than jail time, for the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana. The penalty would be enforced with a citation instead of an arrest.   Hoping to strengthen the state's medical marijuana law, a state-run marijuana distribution network would be created by the initiative as well. The distribution of the medical marijuana would be overseen by the state attorney general.   The initiative would also ban police departments from directly benefiting from civil asset forfeiture proceeds, to stop the obvious conflict of interest under current law. Proceeds would be earmarked for drug education and treatment.   "People are unhappy with the drug war, and they don't want legalization," said Sam Vagenas, Director of The People Have Spoken, the group that backed Arizona's medical marijuana initiative in 1996 and 1998. "They want something between legalization and what we're doing now."  The initiative's supporters must now collect 101,762 signatures by July 6, 2000, for the initiative to appear on the November 2000 ballot.   For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director at (202) 483-5500 or Sam Vagenas, Director of The People Have Spoken at (602) 285-0468. NORML's News Bulletin:http://www.norml.org/news/index.shtmlVote Could Mandate Pot Tickets - 10/14/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3273.shtmlCannabis News NORML Related Articles:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml
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