Proposition 207 (Marijuana Legalization Initiative) has been added to the ballot in Arizona for the General Election taking place on November 3, 2020. In a tweet made August 10, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs confirmed the appearance of Prop. 207 on Arizona’s General Election ballot. The decision to add Prop. 207 to the ballot is owed to the Smart and Safe Initiative, a citizens’ initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults 21 years of age and over. The Smart and Safe initiative submitted 420,000 signatures, 255,080 of which were valid — surpassing the required amount of 237,645 signatures.
A “Yes“ vote for Proposiiton 207 “supports this ballot initiative to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for persons who are at least 21 years old, enact a tax on marijuana sales, and require the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop rules to regulate marijuana businesses” (Ballotpedia, 2020).
A “No“ vote for Proposition 207 “opposes this ballot initiative, thus keeping the recreational possession and use of marijuana illegal under state law in Arizona” (Ballotpedia, 2020).
If Proposition 207 is passed on November 3, 2020, it will accordingly:
- Allow employers and property owners to prohibit use at their workplaces and on their property, like they do currently.
- Ban smoking marijuana in public places like restaurants and open spaces like sidewalks and parks.
- Create thousands of good-paying jobs across Arizona.
- Do the right thing by providing an option for folks who were previously convicted of low-level marijuana charges to have their criminal records expunged so they have fair access to jobs and housing.
- Free up police to focus on real crime and hard drugs and unclogs the justice system which is currently backlogged with minor offenses.
- Generate $300 million annually in new revenue that is specifically dedicated to community colleges, public safety, public health programs, and roads and highways.
- Give the Arizona Department of Health Services the authority to oversee the safe sale of marijuana, including testing and inspecting products sold.
- Gives the state and local health departments millions of dollars annually for addiction prevention, substance abuse treatment, suicide prevention, mental health programs and other justice reinvestment projects that create opportunities for communities disproportionately impacted by the failed drug war.
- Increase penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana and gives police departments funding for training, equipment and task forces.
- Legalize the sale, possession and consumption of one ounce of marijuana (of which 5 grams can be concentrate) for adults at least 21 years old.
- Limit the amount of THC (the chemical responsible for the “high” in marijuana) to 10 milligrams per serving of edible products.
- Require all packaging be childproof and labeled, ban advertising to children and ban the sale of gummy bears, gummy worms and other products that resemble kids’ candy.
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