Page 10 - the NOISE January 2014

according to a Gallup poll conducted sea change? After all, myriad states quickly
Safer Arizona might not have to. Regardless of who brings forth the legislation, the sup- port is seemingly there.
According to a survey conducted by the Behavior Research Center last May, 56% of Arizonans are in favor of “legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” with the majority of op- position coming from self-identifying con- servative Republicans — hardly a surprise to anyone even remotely familiar with current marijuana politics. To put things in admit- tedly extremely general terms, Democrats like smoking weed, Republicans don’t. As the Gallup website explains, “there is a marked divide between Republicans, who still oppose legalizing marijuana, and Demo- crats and independents.”
It is important to remember that despite the apparent progress in Arizona mari- juana legislation reform, on the nationwide spectrum of political affiliation, Arizona is unquestionably red; Republicans hold a strong majority in both the House and Sen- ate, meaning the legalization of recreational marijuana, at least any time soon, is a long shot at best.
After all, there are numerous Arizona politicians — Governor Jan Brewer chief among them — who continue to oppose the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which legalized the medicinal use of marijuana for qualifying patients. It is difficult to imagine a measure that would legalize marijuana rec- reationally passing without a similar, if not more fervent fight.
So how do current Arizona qualifying pa- tients, those already legally enjoying mari- juana’s medicinal benefits, feel about the legalization of recreational use? Many are supportive, but cautious.
According to Keith Stroup, a founding member of NORML, the National Organiza- tion for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, “Mari- juana is now normal. It’s normal in Colorado and Washington, and I think it’ll soon be nor- mal in most other states.”
Still, even he admits that if marijuana leg-
islation is poorly handled, there is always the possibility of a backlash. In a conservative state like Arizona, the scenario of politicians crying foul, believing the state’s medicinal marijuana program to be nothing more than the first step in the ultimate agenda of legal recreational use, is not that far-fetched.
As Governor Brewer demonstrated when she effectively stalled the opening of dis- pensaries in May 2011, all it takes is a flick of the wrist for the state’s medicinal marijuana program to be suspended. It is this potential backlash that has some patients concerned.
Ryan Sheldon, a former NAU student who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his mid-teens, has struggled with symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, and loss of appetite on a near-daily basis — all symp- toms which marijuana helps to alleviate. He explains, “Look, if people want to legal- ize smoking pot, than more power to them. But let’s not forgot that there are people out there who actually need it, beyond just wanting to get baked for kicks.”
Zach Larsen, a current NAU junior, suf- fers from extreme anxiety. “Anxiety” is (of- tentimes correctly) seen by many as the ste- reotypical excuse young adults use in their attempt to get approved for a medical mari- juana card — “I’m just so stressed by these ex- ams, Doc” — but for Mr. Larsen, his condition was actually detrimental to his wellbeing, so much so that for much of his adolescence, he required professional counseling.
Echoing Mr. Sheldon’s sentiments, he states, “Simply put, I need it. And if this push for recreational use is going to hinder my ability to get my medicine due to some back- lash, then that’s just not right. Marijuana isn’t just for stoners.”
For more information on Arizona’s medi- cal marijuana policy, visit
azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana
| Mark Szopinski knows his fiction from his nonfiction. busyb3ingborn@gmail.com
last October, for the first time ever, a significant majority of Americans believe the use of marijuana should be legalized. In total, 58% of those surveyed were in favor of marijuana legalization, while only 39% remained in opposition. Keep in mind this poll was not solely regarding the legalization of medicinal marijuana, but marijuana use in general. Gallup initially asked Americans the question over four decades ago, and their 1969 findings found that only 12% support- ed legalization.
While an increase of 46% is certainly con- siderable — even if the increase took place over the course of 44 years — perhaps more significant is the huge spike seen in marijua- na legalization support during only the past few years; the last time the Gallup poll was conducted, in 2011, those in favor amount- ed to a perfectly divided 50%. That’s an in- crease of 8% in just two years. So, why the recent upswing in support?
Much of this increase can be explained by the heightened presence of marijuana in the media, as various movements and initiatives across the country have forced the issue to the forefront of national news, therefore in- creasing public exposure. Since California first legalized medicinal marijuana with the passing of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, blazing a trail for patient and state rights in opposition of federal policy, 20 states and Washington DC have since fol- lowed suit. This would explain why Gallup charted a steady increase in marijuana sup- port beginning around the new millennium, after over two decades in which support had seemingly hit a plateau.
However, with the now-infamous legaliza- tion of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington in November 2012, it seems that Americans are becoming more comfort- able with the idea. Essentially, if marijuana is illegal everywhere, then it remains undeni- ably taboo, but if the state next door is can- didly lighting up, maybe it’s not so bad after all. With this new and increasing mentality in mind, could America be on the cusp of a
followed California’s example regarding medicinal marijuana; why couldn’t a similar movement happen in support of recreation- al use? More importantly, could Arizona be one such state?
Last month, Assistant House Minority Leader Ruben Gallego, a Phoenix Democrat, announced that he is working on a bill which would legalize recreational marijuana, to be introduced next legislative session.
The bill would systematize marijuana similarly to the way alcohol is regulated and taxed, legalizing possession and consump- tion for those 21 and over, and only in mod- erate amounts. Gallego issued a statement describing his intent:
“The issue of marijuana regulation is prag- matic. Regulating marijuana takes sales off the street and puts them in a controlled envi- ronment. ... About 750,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana-related offenses in 2012, and the majority of those arrests were simply for possession.
“Law enforcement officers’ time and re- sources would be better spent addressing serious crimes, so that we are all safer. Ad- ditionally, we can use some of the money generated from the sales to pay for public education and treatment programs for alco- hol and drug abuse.”
In addition to Mr. Gallego, an organiza- tion calling itself Safer Arizona filed a simi- lar measure last June. According to their website, Safer Arizona — which bases itself around the idea that “Marijuana is Safer than Alcohol” — is sponsoring “an initiative to amend the Arizona State Constitution to allow for legal, taxed, and regulated mari- juana/cannabis/industrial hemp use and commerce.”
However, the group will need to acquire nearly 300,000 voter signatures before next Independence Day in order to qualify for the November 2014 ballot. Even if they don’t succeed in meeting the required signature tally, with Mr. Gallego busy at work on his bill,
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