215,000 Signatures Collected on Arizona Initiative to Legalize Cannabis, Likely to be on November Ballot
Activists in Arizona have collected over 215,000 signatures on their initiative to legalize recreational cannabis for everyone 21 and older, well more than the 150,000 needed to place the measure on the November presidential election ballot.
Although the number of signatures for the measure has far surpassed the 150,000 mark, the Arizona Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is aiming to collect a total of 230,000, in order to fully account for invalid signature (any duplicate signature or any signature from someone not registered to vote in Arizona).
If placed on the ballot and passed into law, Initiative 5 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, and the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, for those 21 and older. State-sanctioned cannabis cultivation centers and retail outlets would also be legalized; overall the proposal is very similar to Colorado’s Amendment 64 which voters approved in 2012.
According to records from the state, proponents of Initiative 5 have collected roughly $1 million in their effort to get it passed into law, while the largest opposition group has yet to collect $100,000 (this is likely to rise substantially, however, once the initiative officially qualifies for the ballot).
The full text of Initiative 5 can be found by clicking here.
Robert Clark
Activists are not paid to collect signatures, MPP hired a petitioning company. Activist do what they do because they believe in it. MPP’s Initiative is not legalization it is tax and regulate. It gives the dispensary owners an oligarchy, and doesn’t decriminalize cannabis. It could distory the medical program.
Roman
This well funded initiative is full of language and clauses that benefit corporate interests and is actually harmful to citizens and consumers, while the opposing grass-roots movement has a refreshingly fair and intelligent initiative. It’s very important that you register to vote, sign the AZFMR/Safer Arizona petition, and vote for it when it’s on the ballot.