arizona marijuana Archives

Poll: Majority of Arizona Voters Support Legalizing Marijuana

June 28, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

According to an Emerson College poll released this week, a solid majority of voters in Arizona are in favor of the state legalizing marijuana for adults.

“When voters were asked about legalization of marijuana, 53% approve and 39% disapprove”, states the poll. “Democrats (66%) and Independents (62%) are in strong support for legalization, while only 32% of Republicans support legalization, 61% oppose.”

Legalization was particularly popular among those 18 to 34 years old, with 65% in support and just 20% opposed. Specifically, polling participants were asked: “There is an initiative for the legalization of marijuana for adults 21 and over in Arizona. Do you support legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and over?”

Initiative to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Arizona, Advocates Aim for 2018 Ballot

February 20, 2017February 16, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

An initiative to legalize the possession, cultivation and license distribution of marijuana has been filed in Arizona.

The proposal was filed with Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan by the nonprofit political action committee Safer Arizona. The measure would legalize the possession of cannabis for those 21 and older, while allowing them to cultivate up to 48 plants at home. The initiative would also establish a system of licensed and regulated cannabis retail outlets and cultivation centers.

Advocates of the measure, titled the Safer Arizona Cannabis Legalization Act, must now collect 150,000 signatures by July to place the measure on the November, 2018 general election ballot.

Legislation to Legalize Cannabis Filed in Arizona

December 20, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

A little over a month after Arizona voters narrowly defeated an initiative to legalize cannabis, a legislative bill to do the same has been filed in the state’s House of Representative.

Representative Mark Cardenas (D-Louisville) has prefiled House Bill 2003 for the 2017 legislative session which begins next month.

Specifically, the measure would allow those 21 and older to:

Discount Tire Donates $1 Million to Fight Legalization in Arizona: Time for a Boycott

October 17, 2016October 17, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

The Discount Tire Co. has just contributed $1 million to the primary campaign working to defeat Arizona’s Proposition 205, which would legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older and is up for a vote next month.

Discount Tire, the largest privately help company in Arizona and one of the largest companies throughout the country with over 900 stores, donated the $1 million to Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy. This is according to financial records released by the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.

Clearly a boycott is in order for those who support a reformation of our failed cannabis policies. Anyone who supports legalization should no longer shop at a Discount Tire store, and should urge their friends and family to do the same.

Just 3 Weeks Until These 5 States Vote to Legalize Cannabis

October 17, 2016October 16, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

We are now just three weeks and two days away from the November 8th election. During this election, five states will be voting on the legalization of cannabis for recreational use. Three additional states (Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota) are voting on medical cannabis legalization.

Below is a short summary of all five recreational legalization initiatives:

Cannabis Legalization Initiatives:

Nevada: If passed into law, Question 2 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis. The personal cultivation of up to six plants, and state-licensed cannabis retail outlets, would also be allowed. Question 2 is the first among these batch of initiatives to officially make the ballot.
Arizona: The fact that legalization is up for a vote in Arizona is one of the more surprising things about this election. Similar to Nevada’s Question 2, Initiative 5 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, and cannabis retail outlets, for those 21 and older.

Arizona Poll Shows Cannabis Legalization in Position to be Approved this November

September 7, 2016September 7, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

A new Arizona Republic/Morrison/Cronkite News poll has found that a plurality of voters in Arizona support legalizing cannabis. This is great news for proponents of Proposition 205, a cannabis legalization initiative being voted on this November.

According to the poll – which has a margin of error of 3.4% – 50% of voters in Arizona say they support legalizing recreational cannabis for everyone 21 and older. Just 39.9% are opposed to the idea, with 10% remaining undecided. Based on his poll, if the election were held today Prop 205 would be passed into law if just 0.1% of the undecided 10% of voters decided to vote in favor of it.

Arizona Supreme Court Rules Cannabis Legalization Initiative Will Be On November Ballot

August 31, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

The Arizona Supreme Court has put the final nail in the coffin (to state a cliche) of those trying to prevent a cannabis legalization initiative (Proposition 205) from being voting on this November. The highest court rejected a lawsuit by Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy calling on the initiative to be removed from the November ballot.

According to opponents of the measure, it should be removed from the 2016 general election ballot because petitions that were signed by voters left out provisions, had a misleading title, and proponents allegedly failed to be transparent about revenue sources. The court rejected all of these complaints, stating that the group behind the initiative did everything legal in gathering enough signatures to make the ballot.

Superior Court Judge Rules Arizona’s Legalization Initiative Can Appear on November Ballot

August 19, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit today filed by opponents of Proposition 205, which would legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older; the goal of the lawsuit was to keep the measure off the November ballot.

“We are pleased with the court’s ruling and that Arizona voters will be able to exercise their right to vote on Proposition 205,” says J.P. Holyoak, Chairman of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA). “This was a frivolous and politically motivated lawsuit. If these county prosecutors dislike this ballot measure, they should take their arguments to the voters, not to our overburdened court system. We hope they will accept the court’s ruling and return to waging legal battles against dangerous criminals rather than citizen initiatives.”

Arizona Cannabis Legalization Initiative Placed on November Ballot as Proposition 205

August 10, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Arizona officials today announced that the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted enough valid signatures for their cannabis legalization initiative to be placed on the November ballot; it will appear as Proposition 205.

The group submitted 258,582 signatures at the end of June, far greater than than the 150,642 required to put the measure to a vote of the people this November, though it took until today for the state to verify that enough of the signatures were valid (from registered Arizona voters).

Over 250,000 Signatures Submitted on Arizona Initiative to Legalize Cannabis

June 30, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) today submitted 258,582 total signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State for their initiative to legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older. This is far greater than than the 150,642 required to put the measure to a vote of the people this November.

“We are very encouraged by the strong levels of support and enthusiasm we found among voters during the petition drive,” says CRMLA Chairman J.P. Holyoak. “Arizonans are ready to end the antiquated policy of marijuana prohibition and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. We look forward to continuing the public conversation about the initiative, and we think most will agree it is a sensible step forward for our state.”