Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
marijuana_dispenser.jpg
Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary, works on balancing the pH level of the soil used to grow new medical marijuana plants, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Seattle. After voters weighed in on election day, Colorado and Washington became the first states to allow legal pot for recreational use, but they are likely to face resistance from federal regulations. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

PHOENIX -- Voters in Colorado and Washington have approved the use of recreational marijuana, but the director of an Arizona anti-drug group said it would be a mistake to invoke a similar law.

The age-old argument for legalizing marijuana has been that, since people will continue to smoke pot, the state might as well tax it and make money off of it. Shelly Mowery with Drug Free AZ said that is shortsighted thinking.

"When you look at the impacts that marijuana use causes, the tax would pale in comparison to the health care costs and costs of auto crashes connected with impaired driving," she said.

Mowery is unaware of any efforts under way at this time to push to legalize recreational marijuana use in Arizona.

Mowery is not sure if the voter-approved use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington state will hold up in court. Federal law prohibits the use of marijuana and federal laws override those created by state and local governments.

Jim Cross, Reporter

share this story:
facebook

25 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    There
    November 13, 2012 7:09 am
    is no evidence that the number of people who use mj will increase with legalization. These people can easily get it or grow it now. The big difference is clogging the jails with mj law violations. Compare mj to legal alcohol and there is no argument which is worse or has the most detrimental effects to society. The current mj laws are like something the taliban would invent.
  • Abuse
    jstall1110 wrote...
    Jeez....
    November 13, 2012 7:18 am
    How many deaths and accidents are alcohol related? How many times have you heard of someone addicted to pot? Destroying families because of pot? C'mon get in the 21st century... reefer madness was a propaganda film from the 1930's and still people are stuck in the mindset that pot is dangerous. Ridiculous! Potheads are the most dosile folks among us. Legalize it as we did with Alcohol in the 1920's. Maybe get someone who knows and has smoked pot in that group they maybe they'll have the correct perception
  • Abuse
    jstall1110 wrote...
    I love it....
    November 13, 2012 7:27 am
    Couldnt of said it better, "The current mj laws are like something the taliban would invent'
  • Abuse
    Loubo wrote...
    They are an anti drug group.
    November 13, 2012 7:58 am
    What did you expect them to say? "Yeah sounds good let's do it?" Duh.
  • Abuse
    dwheeler wrote...
    The real reason you don't legalize it
    November 13, 2012 8:07 am
    We don't legalize pot because it would be almost impossible to tax. Unlike tobacco, which is really quite hard to grow and maintain, weed grows like, um, weeds. It would be kinda like taxing dirt. That said, treat it like any other controlled substance, tobacco, alcohol, etc., have strict impaired driving laws, and there is really no reason that it should be illegal. Aside from the millions being made by privately owned jails/prisons...
  • Abuse
    RPF wrote...
    Credibilty of Anti-Drug groups?
    November 13, 2012 9:12 am
    I'm not sure the opinion of an 'Anti Drug' group is all that credible. They would never approve of legalization -- in any manner, so their opinions are quite biased. And I would like to see the legal precedent that would be used to get Colorado to suspend a duly elected Constitutional amendment. The Supremacy Clause does not hold up because there is no Interstate Commerce of marijuana. Further, the act of the CSA in it's entirety is unconstitutional, which a 10th amendment argument should solve.
  • Abuse
    gilbert armenta wrote...
    If only we allowed grown ups
    November 13, 2012 9:22 am
    to make their own decisions in this country in regards to the things they put in their bodies. Something about the GOP and its tireless pursuit of control over people's private lives and bodies has never sat well with me.
  • Abuse
    az83 wrote...
    Misinformed
    November 13, 2012 9:32 am
    "When you look at the impacts that marijuana use causes, the tax would pale in comparison to the health care costs and costs of auto crashes connected with impaired driving," she said. Absolutely no evidence to support her statement. Pot does not cause accidents, drinking does, ask a cop. They always say drugs and alcohol were a factor as if all drugs have the same effect as alcohol. She's an idiot. Legalize.
  • Abuse
    aspen wrote...
    Lets pretend its the 1920's
    November 13, 2012 9:55 am
    ""The age-old argument for legalizing Alcohol has been that, since people will continue to drink, the state might as well tax it and make money off of it. Shelly Mowery with History Taught us Nothing said that is shortsighted thinking. "When you look at the impacts that Alcohol use causes, the tax would pale in comparison to the health care costs and costs of auto crashes connected with impaired driving," she said."" There, fixed. The point is you cannot overdose from pot. Alcohol is physically and mentally more damaging,
  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    You can grow your
    November 13, 2012 10:02 am
    own week, you can brew your own beer too dwheeler. :-)
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.

Latest Arizona Stories

Ask About An Advertiser
Ben Franklin Water Cooler

Water Cooler

World Class Arizona

  • Avnet

    World Class People. World Class Company. Here's information on a Fortune 500 company from Arizona.

Voice For A Better Arizona

Most Popular

The Lasso Posts