In light of Arizona’s likely initiative to include marijuana legalization on the 2016 ballot, four representatives discussed the potential impacts of recreational cannabis in Arizona on Thursday.
Because Arizona first passed legislation legalizing the use of medical marijuana in 2010, advocates for the drug hope to propose a bill for the use of recreational marijuana in the state.
To address the issues voters will consider in 2016, panelists J.P. Holyoak, Will Humble, Sheila Polk and moderator Dan Hunting weighed the pros and cons of legalization's effect on Arizona’s children and economy.
Barrett Larson, spokesman for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said he supports recreational cannabis legalization because marijuana and alcohol are similiar as recreational substances.
“The idea is that we allow alcohol and we sell alcohol in Arizona while marijuana is less harmful,” he said.
Larson said legalization of marijuana’s recreational use will protect citizens from potential arrest for using the drug.
“There has been a long debate in Arizona about legalizing marijuana,” he said. “A few years ago, a campaign to provide medical marijuana (was) successful, and now it’s time to allow responsible adults to use marijuana in Arizona without fear of criminal prosecution.”
According to the Phoenix New Times, police arrest 10 Arizona citizens per day for marijuana possession.
Larson said keeping marijuana illegal in Arizona promotes black-market purchases.
“Prohibition doesn’t work,” he said. “The 1920s proved that. Prohibition doesn’t work on marijuana just as it didn’t work on alcohol. In that light, we should push for a legal sale of marijuana.”
However, opponents of recreational marijuana legalization, such as Arizona Chamber of Commerce senior policy advisor Doran Miller, believe the drug will not benefit Arizona.
“Specific to recreational marijuana, the reason I would think marijuana (legalization) is not good for Arizona is its effect on our children and our workforce,” she said. “There’s a lot evidence that shows…negative effects on youth.”
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, one in six teenagers who experiment with marijuana will become addicted.
However, Miller said the panel offered a critical discussion about the effects recreational marijuana use.
“I think it was a good panel,” she said. “I think that (it) raised a lot of the issues that have been of concern to those who are opposed, or are at least weary, of legalization.”
Joseph Garcia, the communications director at the Morrison Institute of Public Policy, said he wanted to host an opportunity to learn more about the future of marijuana.
“This is a topic that is often very emotional, but let’s keep it informative and simple,” he said. “We invited a great panel of speakers who represent different viewpoints about marijuana and get a head start on an early discussion.”
Garcia said he hopes the platform guides voters to make an informed decision about recreational marijuana in 2016.
“The whole idea is to inform the electorate so that they make a better decision at the ballot box,” he said. “They should know the pros and cons and the unintended consequences. This is about empowering and educating the electorate.”
Reach the reporter at aplante@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @aimeenplante
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