By E.J. Montini | The Arizona Republic
(Editor’s note: Posting opinion pieces does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rose Law Group.)
Not long ago if someone told Dennis Bohlke the federal government would help him get marijuana legalized in Arizona he’d have said, “Are you high?”
“But,” he added, “It happened. And it was great news. Maybe the country and our state will finally come to their senses.”
The Department of Justice announced last week it would not interfere with states like Colorado and Washington, which passed referendums legalizing marijuana use.
Bohlke is treasurer of a group called the Safer Arizona Committee, which is working to put an initiative to legalize marijuana on the 2014 ballot. In order for that to happen the group will have to collect 259,213 valid signatures by July 3 of next year.
“A lot of people, many of them legislators I’ve spoken with, were worried that if we passed our initiative the federal government would step in and stop us from implementing it,” he said. “Now, that concern is gone. That will help us in convincing the public. Although I believe the public already has changed its attitude about marijuana.”
The initiative would create a constitutional amendment that allows for possession of marijuana and sale. Like alcohol it would be regulated by state and local governments. And sales would be taxed.
Related: Proponents say legalizing medical marijuana in Florida could help …
If you’d like to discuss medical marijuana, contact Ryan Hurley, director of the Rose Law Group Medical Marijuana Dept. rhurley@roselawgroup.com
