Vote to Repeal Arizona House Bill 200
Over two hundred years ago, new settlers were finding their way
around a vast and new
country. Their whole philosophy about their new finding was to create new lives away from the
British and develop a way of living to fit their standards. As they set up a new government many
new and innovative ideas were added. Our fore-fathers wanted a country that would continue to
grow and prosper within the needs of its citizens. Since the beginning of such a new government
new laws have come and gone, separate governments have been set up and given their own
responsibilities. These separate governments of course are at the state level. Our constitution
gives direct regulations for state governments, and rights to create our own form of legislation.
Arizona may have taken this right a bit to far.
The citizens of the state of Arizona decided to pass an initiative that gives doctors the
right to prescribe marijuana and other such drugs for medicinal purposes only. However, this
initiative has brought many controversies to the Arizona government. Many of these issues
include voters of Arizona not fully understanding the bill and many associations such as the
American Lung Association trying to amend the bill.
I propose that as citizens of Arizona, the only way we are going to solve this enormous
problem is to take action ourselves. Such actions can include talking or writing to our Senators
and letting them know our feelings on the bill and to present our own ideas to the representatives
as assistance. Also, the media is a huge market that wants to hear from you, the victims of such a
crime. The only way to make difference is to become involved.
It happens every two years, the speeches, appearances and the promises. We all become
tired of the brown nosing done by candidates for a seat in the Arizona Senate. Most citizens
tune-out the candidates and put the "x" on the ballot at a name that looks familiar. The truth is we
choose our representatives, therefore it is only fair that they, the elected officials by the state,
listen to what we have to say and take into consideration. It is apparent by all the media coverage
that many people oppose the bill passed by Arizona in November of 1996. Currently the Arizona
Senate has finished its annual session and is available for comments from citizens. I feel this is the
responsibility of the voters of Arizona to take action and voice their opinions to their
representatives.
Our founding fathers created such a government that we, the people, have the rights to
choose our representatives and for them to listen and help bring a peace of mind to our concerns.
Within such a democracy, the representatives are to "represent" the people of their district. If they
do not, we have to right to replace them. I propose that, as citizens who were suckered into
passing such a harmful initiative, we take action immediately and let our Senators know how we
feel. They, the representatives, are there in the Senate to keep the state going in a direction that
we want it to go. Does it make sense for us to sit back and complain while they make all the
decisions and take no action towards our anger? Of course not, let's keep our democracy
working for us and let our Senators know how we feel.
Another step we as voters can take relates back to feedback to our Senators. We need to
let them know that we support their ideas on amending Proposition 200. To make this more clear
let's review what Proposition 200 states. This law, also known as the marijuana initiative, states
that, with approval from doctors, terminally ill patients have the right to take marijuana and other
schedule one drugs to ease the suffering and pain from chemotherapy and glaucoma. This law
would also make it legal for patients to have in their possession the drug at any time with the
consent of a physician. This initiative, in short means that we are giving people who are dying
the right to harm their bodies even more just for a short time of relief from their illness. Is it worth
it to give a few hours of relief for more medical problems in the future? I don't think so, we need
to take a long look at what we are actually doing before acting upon our impulses. Robert Wilson
of the East Bay National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Hayward, California
adds that " It's not going to be in a little jar...You have to talk to them [the senators]; that's
where I think it's headed. There's going to be more of a personal approach (Wilson D11). Wilson
has a good point, the only way that the reform of Proposition 200 in Arizona is going to change is
by a personal approach. Nothing is ever accomplished by letting sit around, it needs action from
concerned people.
Apparently the people of Arizona have done some talking with the representatives from
their districts. On March 24, 1997, and again on April 19, 1997, the Arizona state Senate, met
and adopted a House Bill to revise Proposition 200. This bill, known as HB2518, adds revisions
to the proposition to make it illegal for doctors to prescribe marijuana and other schedule one
drugs until the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approves of the drug for medicinal purposes.
A committee analyst for the Senate explained what HB2518 really does. ôIt provides that the
medicalization of schedule one drugs does not become effective until Congress authorizes the
medical use of marijuana and the Drug Enforcement Administration reschedules marijuana (Pyper
2). A few other revisions to the Proposition are as follows:
"Any physician who is licensed pursuant...may prescribe a schedule one drug to treat a
debilitating disease or to relieve the pain and suffering of a seriously ill patient or terminally ill
patient. (House 2)."
"Any physician who is licensed...shall obtain the written opinion of a second physician
that the prescribing of a schedule one drug is appropriate to treat a...disease or to relieve the pain
and suffering of a seriously ill patient or terminally ill patient (House 4)."
Although these few revisions have been made, they are a big step to the elimination of such a
horrible bill.
The provisions which HB 2518 makes to Proposition 200 are all to clarify more of what
voters want and needed to know before the November 1996 election. It also includes other
schedule one drugs that can be prescribed under the law. These drugs include PCP, LSD, heroin,
and methamphetamines. One major supporter of the House Bill is Arizona Governor Fife
Symington. After the hearing on the house bill, Governor Symington signed the provision without
hesitation. However, on the opposition, Sam Vegenas, who was one of the authors for
Proposition 200 calls the provisions "... a slap in the face to voters (Vegenas 2)." According to
reports by KTVK-TV 3 here in Phoenix, Vegenas is counting on a law suit against the state of
Arizona by the backers of this law because of the 2-to-1 vote last fall to decriminalize marijuana
for medicinal use. What does this view say about Arizona and some of it's representatives?
Personally, I take it to mean that we, as a state, have no care if our citizens are using harmful
drugs.
I would also like to propose that the Arizona Government take a look at what doctors are
currently prescribing for such effects from chemotherapy and glaucoma. What is wrong with these
drugs? The reason they are given in small amounts is to keep the health of the individual in mind.
These drugs such as morphine and codeine can also become addictive. Let's wake up a smell the
coffee, marijuana is also addictive. Some of the side effects of marijuana include hallucinations,
dizziness, loss of brain cells, lung cancer, throat cancer, and even emphysema. Should we allow
terminally ill patients to put their lives at more of a risk of contracting these diseases on top of the
one they are already suffering from? I should think not.
The opposition would state that if the patients are going to die, why not give them the
marijuana to make their passing as easy and painless as can be? My response to that is what kind
of message are we sending to the younger generations? The opposition of course would say that
it is a message that we are trying all that we can to save our citizens and ease the pain from their
disease. True, yet we are also sending the message that it is all right to light up a joint when things
are going bad, or you have pneumonia or the flu. LetÆs not create the problem of trying to
explain ourselves later down the road when the statistics come out showing that smoking among
teens is rising out of control and the smoking is not only coming from tobacco products but from
self-grown pot.
House Bill 2518 does not solve the problem of the marijuana initiative, however, it puts a
hold on the law. The only way to solve a problem like this is to join efforts and fight back. As a
voting population, we have the authority to let our leaders know how we feel. Our Senators and
Congressmen, however, cannot do this alone. The only logical solution to such a devastating
problem is to voice your opinion. This is not one person or one committee effort. Our country
was founded on principals that enable us as citizens to participate in our government. There was a
reason for such a new government. If Proposition 200 is not a good enough example, then I don't
know what else is. Let's not make this an issue which our leaders have full control over.
As typical voters, we find ourselves gathered within our family rooms and dining rooms
discussing the way our country is moving. Many of us are in great disagreement with each other
over this issue. In the words of a country singer, "...this ain't no thinkin' thing (Trace Atkins,
1997)." I feel if you do not vote, then you have no right in the say of our country's movement,
whether it be progressive or regressive. The voters of the state of Arizona need to take matters
within their own hands and contact their local district representative.
Arizona may have gone to far with the rights given to it as a state to form a kind of
government that fits within the Constitution. However, it is re-assuring to know that we have
some wonderful representative who are in support of amending the bill that makes marijuana
illegal. Here are only a few amongst our representatives: Senators Conner, Cummiskey,
Freestone, Huppenthal, Solomon, and Kaites (Judiciary, Attachment 1). These are the Senators in
which need our calls and letters of support. They need to be informed of our gratitude for serving
the people. The two senators which need to be contacted and made known of the wrong they are
doing for our state are: Senators Rios, and Wettaw. These representatives are giving Arizona a
bad name among our country and setting the impression that it is okay for people who are
suffering from a long stressful day at work to light up a joint and forget their problems. Let's not
make Arizona a taboo word among people across the country because of one harsh bill that can
hurt us more than help us. My challenge for the state of Arizona is to take action in what you
believe in- don't settle for mediocrity.
Bibliography
About the Author
Back to The Full Cup
Send comments to:
sims1@imap3.asu.edu