Gov. Jan Brewer is lending her support to the campaign against medical marijuana, saying that passing Proposition 203 would create new public-safety risks.
Brewer announced her opposition to the initiative Wednesday at a news conference at the Talking Stick Resort on the Salt River Reservation. Brewer has not campaigned for or against any of the other nine propositions on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Brewer said the campaign amounted to a backdoor legalization of the drug, and warned that dispensaries would overwhelm communities and become magnets for crime.
"I am fearful of the additional societal costs we will incur if voters were to pass this proposition," Brewer said. "I ask my fellow Arizonans not to be bullied into believing this is about compassion for sick people."
Andrew Myers, campaign manager for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project, noted that language within the initiative prevents more than one dispensary opening for every 10 licensed pharmacies in the state. That regulation would limit the number of dispensaries within Arizona to 124, Myers said.
Myers said Colorado's experience with medical marijuana showed dispensaries do not become crime magnets, citing media reports that say police have found no link between the dispensaries and crime.
"There are thousands of patients across Arizona who desperately need this law," he said.
Terry Goddard, the Democratic nominee for governor, also opposes Prop. 203.
3,300 pounds of marijuana at checkpoints.
SELIGMAN, Ariz. - A traffic stop for speeding has led to the arrests of a man and woman from Florida for drugs.
