A Rocky Mountain Poll published Wednesday finds that more than half of Arizona voters are in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use.
83 percent of voters also favor allowing the state’s public universities to conduct research on marijuana’s effects on individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
JP Holyoak, of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, stated that the drug’s continued prohibition reflects a failure of the political process: “It’s recognition of the failure of prohibition. We don’t arrest people for having a glass of wine with dinner. Why would we arrest people for consuming a substance that’s safer than alcohol?”
Local doctor Sue Sisley was fired from her position at the University of Arizona in 2014 after state lawmakers came out against her research on medical marijuana treatments for veterans. In reference to the poll, Sisley said that “it’s great to see we have that kind of support from the general public.”
Dr. Sisley had formerly been opposed to legalizing marijuana for medical use, but says that statistics on veteran suicides changed her mind. 22 veterans commit suicide each day in the U.S., and Sisley says that those veterans who use medical marijuana tend to hold jobs and live happier lives.
The Arizona Republic Party published a statement Wednesday making clear its opposition to marijuana legalization.
Source:
Photo Credit: sean horan