AZ Medical Marijuana Proposition 203 Passes

Update: Prop 203 has passed. All hail the AZ voters! Folks who think this will turn AZ into Cali should really read the Proposition. It was incredibly well written with thoughtful, strong limits to avoid many issues found in CA and CO.

...The final vote also confirmed that Arizona voters did approve a law allowing patients with a recommendation from their doctors to purchase up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from non-profit dispensaries. Supporters outnumbered foes by about 4,300 votes.

About Prop 203:

…The Arizona measure will allow patients with diseases including cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and any other “chronic or debilitating” disease that meets guidelines to buy 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks or grow plants.

The patients must get a recommendation from their doctor and register with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The law allows for no more than 124 marijuana dispensaries in the state. After ballots are canvassed Nov. 29, the state has 120 days before the law goes into effect.

Backers of Proposition 203 have argued that thousands of patients faced “a terrible choice” of suffering with a serious or even terminal illness or going to the criminal market for pot. They collected more than 252,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot _ nearly 100,000 more than required….

…Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana law in 1996 and 1998, but it never went into effect because of problems with its wording.

…Saturday’s final count was 841,346 in favor of the measure and 837,005 opposed….