Initiative to End Marijuana Prohibition in Arizona Poised to Appear on November Ballot

At 10:30 AM on Thursday June 30 in Phoenix, Arizona, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) submitted petitions with 258,582 signatures to state officials in order to place an initiative to tax and regulate marijuana on the November ballot.  Their total submission far exceeded the required number of 150,642 signatures.

The ballot initiative would "allow adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana; establish a system in which marijuana is regulated similarly to alcohol; and enact a 15 percent tax on retail marijuana sales, from which a majority of the revenue would be directed to Arizona schools and public education programs."

The submission took place during a news conference at the campaign's temporary office hosted by CRMLA chairman J.P. Holyoak and Parents for Responsible Marijuana Regulation co-chair Kathy Inman.  The conference was attended by representatives of the Arizona Secretary of State's office who accepted the signatures for review.

“We are very encouraged by the strong levels of support and enthusiasm we found among voters during the petition drive,” said CRMLA Chairman J.P. Holyoak. “Arizonans are ready to end the antiquated policy of marijuana prohibition and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. We look forward to continuing the public conversation about the initiative, and we think most will agree it is a sensible step forward for our state.”

The submission comes a day after the Joint Legislative Budget Committee announced their findings that the initiative would generate around $82 million a year in tax revenue, at least $55 million of which will go to K-12 education, including full-time Kindergarten.