2010 Arizona Medical Campaign

[Wretched]

Dear friends:
Fresh off our winning ballot initiative campaigns in Michigan and Massachusetts, the Marijuana Policy Project has just launched a campaign to pass a statewide medical marijuana ballot initiative campaign in Arizona.
If passed in November 2010, the initiative would protect Arizona patients from arrest and jail for using marijuana with their doctors' recommendation. This would make Arizona the 14th medical marijuana state (or possibly the 15th, 16th, or even 17th, depending on what successes we have between now and then).
We're feeling good about this campaign because in November we passed a similar initiative in Michigan with a whopping 63% of the vote — and we know we can do it again in Arizona.
But the first thing we need to do is get the initiative placed on the ballot. To do that, we must collect 153,365 valid signatures from Arizona voters, which means we need to collect about 250,000 gross signatures. We know from our past successful signature drives, like in Michigan, that it costs about $2 to collect every signature (because of the costs of paying canvassers, checking validity, and so forth), which means it will take $500,000 to fund this stage of the campaign.
Want to be part of this exciting campaign and help protect another state's medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail? Please donate what you can here.
As you can see at the bottom of this message, a major philanthropist is willing to match your donation dollar-for-dollar, so we only need you and other MPP members to donate a total of $250,000. Arizona patients and I are grateful for anything you can do to help.
Sincerely,

Rob Kampia
Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.
P.S. As I've mentioned in previous alerts, a major philanthropist has committed to match the first $2.35 million that MPP c

 

[Wretched]

65% of Arizona voters support removing criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana, according to a February 2009 poll. And voters have already passed medical marijuana initiatives twice in the state, in 1996 and 1998. Unfortunately, due to a technical error in the wording of these laws, they have failed to effectively protect medical marijuana patients from arrest. The initiative that will go before voters in 2010 will close this loophole and give patients the protection and peace of mind that Arizonans agree they deserve.

Right now, Arizona patients battling cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases face prison for trying to relieve their pain. By passing this initiative, we can stop this cruel and unnecessary policy.
What would Arizona’s medical marijuana initiative do?

* Allow terminally and seriously ill patients who find relief from marijuana to use it with their doctors’ approval.
* Protect these seriously ill patients from arrest and prosecution for the simple act of taking their doctor-recommended medicine.
* Permit qualifying patients or their caregivers to legally purchase their medicine from tightly regulated clinics, as they would any other medicine -- so they need not purchase it from the criminal market.
* Permit qualifying patients or their caregivers to cultivate their own marijuana for medical use if a regulated medical marijuana clinic is not located within 25 miles of the qualifying patient.
* Create registry identification cards, so that law enforcement officials could easily tell who was a registered patient, and establish penalties for false statements and fraudulent ID cards.
* Allow patients and their caregivers who are arrested to discuss their medical use in court.
* Keep commonsense restrictions on the medical use of marijuana, including prohibitions on public use of marijuana and driving under the influence of marijuana.

Read the full text of the initiative.

 

[Wretched]

The Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project (AMMPP) is a grassroots organization devoted to passing a medical marijuana initiative in Arizona in November 2010. Currently, seriously ill people who use marijuana under the advice of their doctor to treat illnesses such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis are subject to arrest and imprisonment. Simply for trying to stimulate their appetite or alleviate their pain.
We can change this. On November 2, 2010, Arizona voters could have a chance to vote to protect Arizona’s medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail. But the voters will not have that chance unless we collect more than 150,000 valid signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. We will be launching a signature drive within the next few weeks to accomplish this goal, and we will need your help.
Please volunteer, sign up to collect signatures, or donate today. And please check back with us often for updates about the launch of the signature drive and to see what other things we're working on.

 

[MF Grimm]

Yes! Finally. I may not have to move from my beloved state.

 

[Wretched]

Yes! Finally. I may not have to move from my beloved state.

brother these are my same thoughts!!!

 

[steppinRazor]

i'd sign in a heart beat if i still lived in PHX but unfortunately i dont.

i am more than willing to make a donation tho, do you accept money orders?

 

[Wretched]

i'd sign in a heart beat if i still lived in PHX but unfortunately i dont.

i am more than willing to make a donation tho, do you accept money orders?

i would tell you to go here but I'm not sure if they accept money orders.
ill see if theres a way for money orders or once the campaign manager actually gets a hold of me i could take your money order and actually guarantee that your money goes toward funding the campaign. but i will let you know if your interested..

ill also keep updates on this page of any news

 

[Joey56789]

What ever happened to the 1996 vote? That passed by a bigger margin then in California.

 

[Wretched]

What ever happened to the 1996 vote? That passed by a bigger margin then in California.

the wording on the initiative and forms where not correctly addressed which caused loops holes.. we have voted to prescribe marijuana but its illegal for doctors to do so. they can only recommend it.. the wording needs to be changed and some shit...

 

[Wretched]

blah blah blah

 

[Wretched]

Group Wants Medical Pot on Ballot in 2010

Daniel Scarpinato
April 22, 2009
Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX — A doctor's note will allow Arizonans to buy marijuana — or even grow the drug in their home — if a national group seeking voter approval gets its way next year.

The group has drafted a measure they hope to get on the 2010 ballot that would legalize medical marijuana here and set up a system of non-profit "dispensaries."

Supporters say marijuana use has great benefits for people suffering from serious illnesses ranging from cancer to HIV. But critics have long argued legalizing medical use is a step towards full legalization of a drug they see as a "gateway" to more serious addictions.

If the backers get their measure on next year's ballot, it will mark the fourth time since 1996 Arizona voters have a chance to weigh-in on the issue.

"It's the right thing to do," said Andrew Myers, the Arizona campaign manager hired by the national Marijuana Policy Project. "It provides a level of mercy to these people who are suffering and dying."

Organizers have yet to submit draft language to the Secretary of State's Office. But Myers said the initiative would say if someone were to get a "recommendation" from a licensed physician they could not be prosecuted in the state for marijuana possession.

There's two ways patients could get their hands on the pot: Either at the non-profit dispensaries, or if they're 25 miles away from one, they could grow the drug in their own home.

Those using the drug would still be violating federal law — which is why doctors can't give a prescription like other drugs — but on the state level, it would be legal.

"We shouldn't be interfering with the doctor-patient relationship," Myers said.

Arizonans have showed a willingness to legalize the practice for medical purposes before. In 1996, voters approved medical marijuana — only to see the Legislature essentially repeal the law afterward.

Two years later, voters re-ratified the '96 measure. But despite that, doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug because of the threat of losing their license.

A 2002 initiative with a provision to reduce the penalty for possession of up to two ounces to a fine was rejected by voters.

This time supporters say they've worked out the legal issues by avoiding the mention of prescriptions. And there are other elements in the measure to win voters over. The state could only issue licenses for 120 dispensaries, none of which could be within 500 feet of a school.

"We're sensitive to the public's concerns about these facilities," said Myers, adding of the 13 states that have legalized medical marijuana, none have legalized it for recreational use.

But some are still skeptical.

State Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu, says he doesn't have a problem with people using marijuana for medical purposes.

But he said the dispensaries — similar to a system used in California — are prone to abuse.

"I think that's actually how they abuse it," Gould said — although he says doctors prescribe other drugs that are more addictive and dangerous than pot.

Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, says even if the move is a step toward legalization, she's not threatened, pointing to some of the greater societal effects she sees from alcohol.

A champion of legalizing assisted suicide, Lopez said the state shouldn't try to be "medical arbiters."

"Marijuana has been very helpful for people to deal with pain," she said.

The group has until July 2010 to gather more than 150,000 signatures.

 

[soniq]

Yes! Finally. I may not have to move from my beloved state.

another ditto

Well, this is not my home state, but this is where i've been for five years and I don't really want to move if i can help it. If, however, MJ continues to be a felony, per se DUI metabolite laws continue to reign, and maricopa's sheriff keeps winning elections, i will HAVE to leave.

BTW, I am VEHEMENTLY against the ">25 miles away from a dispensary" wording in order to grow your own. I want 100% organic control and don't want my meds tainted with bullshit.

I absolutely cannot support that wording, that has to change