Homeless in Arizona

Sadly Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk seems to be against the initiative for the same reason. $$$ MONEY $$$.

I like to think of the "War on Drugs" and "War on Marijuana" as a full employment jobs program for cops and prosecutors like Sheila Polk.

If marijuana is legalized that will mean huge drops in the number of arrests for victimless marijuana crimes.

And if the number of marijuana arrests drops, then a lot of people will be screaming for huge cuts of the budgets of the police and prosecutors. Which I think is why Sheila Polk is against legalizing marijuana.

It's all about Sheila Polk's budget.

Source

Arizona marijuana measure faces opposition from business community, politicians

Ryan Randazzo, Arizona Republic Published 7:30 a.m. MT Aug. 10, 2019

The people and groups opposed to legalizing marijuana in Arizona in 2016 are raising familiar concerns over a new ballot initiative that was detailed for the first time Friday.

The "Smart and Safe Arizona Act" would allow people 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and set up a system for licensing retail sites, mostly at existing medical-marijuana facilities, in 2021.

Arizona's 2016 effort failed with 51% of voters opposing and 49% supporting it.

Among the most vocal critics in Arizona is Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk, who serves as chairwoman of the group Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy.

Polk said the companies supporting the measure have become financially strong thanks to Arizona's voter-approved medical-marijuana program and are now trying to boost their business through recreational sales. [I think Sheila Polk is 100% right about that. Even if I don't like Sheila Polk.]

"This is not your next door neighbor smoking pot on his back patio," she said. "What I hope is that Arizonans will open their eyes to what is now big marijuana at our doorstep. This is a well funded, mega-corporate industry that has written the laws, given themselves the corner of the market … to make money off selling an addictive product." [Marijuana is an additive product? Where does Sheila Polk come up with this nonsense?]

Polk said she opposes any measure that signals to people that marijuana is safe. [Hmmm, Every year about 6 million people die from tobacco use, but zero people die from marijuana use. Doesn't sound like marijuana is that dangerous]

"What really strikes me with this initiative is, medicine is never for recreational use," she said. "Now the medical (marijuana) industry is writing rules for how to sell medicine for recreational use."

Gov. Doug Ducey was an opponent of the 2016 measure, and a spokesman said the governor was reviewing the language released Friday.

Measure attempted to address critics

The committee supporting the initiative took strides to address concerns raised in Arizona's failed 2016 ballot measure, as well as problems in other states that have legalized marijuana, spokeswoman Stacy Pearson said.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized the drug for adult use.

"It's been very interesting to work with the funders and work with the industry in looking at their commitment to making good policy," she said. "These are folks that are Arizona residents and have Arizona families and understand what they are doing and want to make sure that we deliver a good initiative to the public."

Business community wary of proposition

Another major opponent of the 2016 effort was the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Senior Vice President of Government Relations Garrick Taylor said his organization's board of directors will read the measure closely, but is concerned.

"We will look at this proposition with fresh eyes," Taylor said. "But proponents will have to clear a pretty high bar to convince us to change our position."

Of greatest concern to the business community is the ability for employers to keep marijuana out of the workplace, he said. [Sounds like that should be the job of employers, not government]

"Making clear that hiring and firing provisions and the ability to keep this substance, which is illegal at the federal level, out of the workplace," Taylor said.

While backers of the measure said they have accomplished that, the chamber and other critics will seek legal advice on how the ballot measure would affect them.

The measure's committee also said the language would be reviewed by Legislative Council at the state capitol.

"It will be interesting to hear from that body what it thinks of what the proponents have crafted here," Taylor said. "I would just remind anyone of the business community's strong feelings about this issue."

Brnovich was consulted for the measure Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich had multiple phone conversations with the committee pushing the ballot measure during which he shared numerous concerns he wanted addressed, spokesman Ryan Anderson said.

Brnovich recently suggested it would be prudent for state lawmakers to pass a legalization measure in light of the upcoming ballot measure. If the lawmakers did that, they would be able to amend and tweak such a law to address problems, while voter-enacted laws are not subject to changes by lawmakers unless they further the intent of the ballot measure.

The attorney general will review the language over the weekend, Anderson said.

"We will look and see," Anderson said.

Among Brnovich's concerns was the ability for officials to prohibit marijuana use in open spaces the way smoking is prohibited in some places, Anderson said.

Also important were labeling restrictions, avoiding marijuana products that look like popular candy or items for children, ensuring driving under the influence would not be condoned, testing of products and security measures for retail sites, Anderson said.

And like the chamber, Brnovich also wanted to see protections for employers, he said.

Even if the measure sufficiently addresses his concerns, Brnovich likely will remain neutral on the measure.

"I don’t think you will ever see Mark Brnovich oppose or support a ballot initiative for the remainder of his term," Anderson said. "That is a stance he decided to take. He feels it is very important to remain neutral."

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.