Though it surprisingly has not been given much attention, Arizona has also had a proposition to legalize the use of medical marijuana, but only for those with "chronic, debilitating diseases", including "cancer, HIV/AIDS [and] Hepatitis C". And this propositon actually passed, by a very small margin of 4,341 voters in a ballot total of 1.67 million. There are quite a few restrictions, with a limited number of dispensaries allowed in the state, registration with the Arizona Department of Health Services, and of course a doctor's recommendation.
But some worrisome parts of the proposition include allowing those with the "diseases" to grow the plants on their own, and of course the increased crime around dispensaries.
Of course, just because this proposition passed does not mean that it will necessarily be put into action, as evidenced by the inaction that occured after Arizona voters had passed a similar medical marijuana law in 1996 and 1998.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Maybe the passage of this proposition is not so surprising because it seems that more people support medical uses of marijuana, than recreational marijuana. For example, California has already passed a proposition that legalized the use of medical marijuana.
I think that legalizing medical marijuana is fine compared to CA's Prop 19, which was for recreational purposes.
I do disagree with the fact that they are allowed to grow marijuana on their own. I feel that it is unnecessary and many would use "diseases" (as Melody mentioned) as an excuse to grow marijuana. Since it is medical marijuana we talking about here, they should only be doctor prescribed like other drugs.
Although people are able to grow their own marijuana in this new Arizona law, Prop 19 some what discourages the idea of growing and selling marijuana because profit would be taken out and handed over to the government.I believe Prop 19 is the opposite of this new law that passed in Arizona in the way that Prop 19 discourages while this new law does not.
I don't see much harm in such proposition; if marijuana can improve their health or at least better patients' situations then let it pass. I don't believe that passing it will significantly affect the crime rate.
I agree that more people support the medical uses of marijuana, but then again they have to keep in mind that what we legalize for purely "medical" uses will probably end up being abused by people who aren't in need of it anyways. I feel like the subject of marijuana is really sketch in itself, because no one really knows how the consequences would play out if medical marijuana was to be legalized in Arizona.
Post a Comment