An Arizona voter initiative which would decriminalize minor marijuana offenses, establish a method for medical marijuana distribution, immunize patients from prosecution and reform asset forfeiture laws is now being led by attorney and NORML Legal Committee member Michael Walz, Esq., through his newly formed grass roots group, Plants Are Medicine.
Walz takes over the initiative after the initial sponsor, the group The People Have Spoken, dropped out, saying they perceived problems with the initiative’s language. Walz said The People Have Spoken will hand over to his group more than the 101,762 signatures needed for the initiative to appear on the November ballot.
Under the initiative, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana would be considered a violation, resulting in no jail time and a fine of no more than $500. Currently, Arizona is one of the only two states in which possession of a small amount of marijuana remains a felony.
The initiative would also protect patients with a physician’s recommendation from arrest, establish a method for medical marijuana distribution by the state attorney general, parole non-violent drug possession offenders in prison and shift from law enforcement agencies to drug treatment organizations the proceeds from civil asset forfeitures.
“We took over this initiative because we want to ensure patients receive their medicine and are protected from being incarcerated,” Walz said. For more information, please contact Michael Walz, Esq., at (602) 254-8861.
