Bill would legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona http://www.abc15.com/news/region-northern-az/other/bill-would-legalize-recreational-marijuana-in-arizona A state representative has introduced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Arizona. The bill, House Bill 2007, would allow anyone 21 or older to legally possess up to an ounce of the drug. Someone 21 or over could legally grow five marijuana plants; up to an ounce of marijuana could be exchanged between of-age consumers, but could not be sold. A tax of $50 would be levied on every ounce transferred from a grow facility to a retail store. Fifty percent of the tax would go into Arizona's general fund, 30 percent would go toward education; the remainder would go to public health and educational programs. Public smoking would continue to be banned. Reaction to the idea is split, even among marijuana users. “All these kids are doing to get it, and then what's going to happen?†asked Richard Baker, who uses medical marijuana to treat rheumatoid arthritis but opposes recreational use. “We're going to have a bunch of flunkies,†Baker said, adding that marijuana has dulled his memory. Meantime, a man who asked to be identified only as “Stev-o†said enforcing existing marijuana laws is a waste of tax dollars. “I think it costs us more to try to stop it than what it would actually cost to allow it to be legal,†he said, adding that he smokes marijuana recreationally to de-stress and treat sporadic pains. Recreational marijuana use is currently legal in Colorado and Washington State. Recreational use is set to become legal in Oregon on July 1, while voters in Alaska approved recreational use in November. So if you are in Arizona, you might want to visit this site... http://azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp ...and tell your politicians what you think! (You KNOW all those up-tight prohibitionists will write screaming their heads off about this bill and how it will ruin Arizona forever! Counteract them!) You might even go online and make a few comments in the news! Did you know all this happens with even partial (medical) legalization? No correlation between medical marijuana legalization, crime increase: Legalization may reduce homicide, assault rates (news – 2014) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140326182049.htm States With Medical Marijuana Laws Have Fewer Opioid Overdose Deaths (news – 2014) http://time.com/3175582/states-with-medical-marijuana-laws-have-fewer-opioid-overdose-deaths/ Medical Marijuana Cuts Suicide Rates By 10% In Years Following Legalization (news – 2014) http://www.medicaldaily.com/medical-marijuana-cuts-suicide-rates-10-years-following-legalization-268472 Couples' Marijuana Use Is Inversely Related to Their Intimate Partner Violence Over the First 9 Years of Marriage. (abst – 2014) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25134048 If Medical Marijuana Laws Cause A 'Surge in Drugged Driving Deaths,' Why Are Fatalities Falling? (news – 2014) http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/02/17/if-medical-marijuana-laws-cause-a-surge-in-drugged-driving-deaths-why-are-fatalities-falling/ Imagine what would happen with FULL legalization! Granny
Arizona state government wants to pass this bill before a vote initiative goes through. Thereby taking the power away from the people and giving it to the government to change and bend the rules at will. I only support voter initiatives, I much perfer legal weed to be ingrained in the state consitution. Though Medical Marijuana here in Arizona is a bit of a joke. This 25 my rule is bullcrap.
HERE HERE.. this is a scam to squash the voter initiative which allows people to openly sell it. This is not legalization if they add other clauses that still get you arrested.
Please god let it be so, the medical program here is a fucking ripoff. You have to pay 100 to the certification program,100 to the doctor and another 100 to the state just to get a card. It's like a giant middle finger to weed smokers throughout the state. But i honestly wouldn't be surprised if it didn't pass by next year at the most. Everyone and their mother here blazes up believe it or not.