A couple weeks ago, we took a look at opioid use and prescription in Arizona and how states have seen a decrease in opioid overdoses after legalizing medical marijuana (“An MMJ Win,” Sept. 1).
Well, now it seems one such manufacturer of a fentanyl-based drug is concerned about recreational marijuana interfering with its future business plans.
Insys Therapeutics plans to roll out a new line of THC medicine in the near future and decided to donate $500,000 to the Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy to aid the opposition of Prop 205.
The Chandler-based Insys seems to be concerned that revenue from their new manufactured THC spray called Syndros would a take quite a blow from a cheaper recreational alternative.
As if vested financial interest isn’t enough, Insys is also currently under investigation in four states, including Arizona, for unethical practices in soliciting their prescription opioid, Subsys, which have allegedly resulted in patient deaths.
J.P. Holyoak, chairman of the campaign that has been the driving force behind Prop 205, said that the ARDP is undermining its claim of responsible drug policy by accepting the donation from a company under investigation for irresponsible drug policy.
“They’re knowingly accepting money from one of the worst actors in the business,” Holyoak said at a Phoenix news conference on Sept. 8. “This is a company engaged in illegal marketing schemes that is intentionally hooking people on opioids.”
Much of the opposition campaign’s donations can be traced back to Gov. Doug Ducey, who has purportedly been making phone calls to request donations to the ARDP, such as in the case of Microchip Technology CEO Steve Sanghi, who made a $25,000 contribution in May.
Other major contributors include the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry—which also signed on as a plaintiff in the failed lawsuit against Prop 205—with more than $120,000 in donations to date.
Randy Kendrick, wife of Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, has donated $100,000.
Still, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has managed to far outraise the opposition with more than $3 million in donations as of Aug. 26, while ARDP had only managed a little more than $950,000. However, proponents also had the added expense of paying for petition signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, which cut into the amount they have to spend on persuading voters.
The donation from Insys is by far the largest donation the opposition campaign has received and will push their piggy bank to about half of what CRMLA has raised.
While funding is not the best indication of what voters will ultimately decide on a ballot measure, we mentioned last week that Arizonans are pretty split on legalization with 50 percent for it, 40 percent against it and 10 percent undecided.
Additionally, there are some supporters of legalization that do not support Prop 205, which could spell out bad news for the proposition’s prospects. Some are planning on holding out for a possible future initiative including decriminalization and offering greater freedom for new dispensaries.
But with the immense expense of sending an initiative to the ballot, it isn’t clear when Arizona will get another chance to follow in the footsteps of Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska.
While the passage of Prop 205 could result in stringent regulations that affect shops that sell paraphernalia and municipalities left with the option of prosecuting users under federal law, failure to pass the initiative will result in the continuation of Arizona’s policy of incarceration for low-level drug offenses.
As of yet, this isn’t an easy decision for proponents of legalization, which just might be Prop 205’s downfall.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2016.
Nick Meyers, Reasonably defined paradox of issues,
When this story associated MPP & CRLMA with WA,OR,CO,AL this is a very misleading. All of these states decriminalized before legalizing as CA has done and legislation there is on the ballot this year to.
So in looking at states that have legalized they have kept the State University system inclusive to use addiction, social changes, economic, employment.
In Arizona passage of 205 all monies collected are already earmarked for administration, enforcement & education. There would be no monies going for decriminalization. There will be n monies going for study. There will be no monies going for user representation of repeal of Schedule 1 WHAT THIS MEANS NOTHING FOR THE IMPACT GOOD OR BAD CAN BE SPENT AS PER CONSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENT .
So if 205 is passed This board with a pot full of monies won’t want a reschedule why would it ? Cant spend any monies in AZ to decriminalize as per Constitutional agreement. Heads I win tails you lose kind of thing.
It then would be a few 2 members from the industry a director and a educator. With a possible chance to direct the monies to the departments of EDU. Instant majority of 4 with nothing going to the user or consumer
All of the other states that have legalized have done it with in state existing agencies. All states that have legalized and we can see how they are working the administration and enforcement. Why does Arizona have to reinvent the whole process? Because other states have seen the general application of legalization and seen marketability caps?
Why does Arizona need to build a separate court , system a separate policing agency, a separate revenue collecting , a separate licensing & compliance agencies,
let’s summarize what happens with 205,
less employment protections, less medical requirements for patients, less social and economical impacts reviews, less people growing their own, less study on medical prospects of marijuana, Less requirements and understanding put on dispensaries, Less oversight of the whole process outside the department. Absolutely no limits to the power and market and enforcement abilities to the department. The rules are not even written and a already stacked board for marketability only.
They will be able to assess civil fines. If you are found with a plant out of strain of those sold, with no cap on the fines. If found guilty in criminal court then this Department can assess civil fines like a DMV. Most likely they will ask at the point of purchase to sign an agreement to purchase in that agreement you will agree to all civil requirements like a driver’s license basically giving this new civil court oversight and fine accordingly like DMV. If found in noncompliance for not paying court all court fines the you won’t be able to purchase marijuana. Insuring the illegal market the need for enforcement.
Files will be kept on who buys marijuana a report from your drivers license at point of sale will be recorded and since no medical privacy law will be in effect open to second party vendors and enforcement and just about anyone as they will be no requirements of privacy of consumers.
positives, can grow 6 plants (rules on what strains how to obtain fees attached,
(civil rights forfeited if decided to buy the license tag to grow and automatic permission for entry if you sign the license to grow a plant)
No doctor requirements to obtain, no annual review by a medical professional to counsel and administer. No interference by cities this will be sweeping to all but County Attorney will have oversight on zoning for growing processing sales. WTF. Less requirement on weights product content, medical oversight, Less
THIS IS JUST BAD NOT LEGALIZATION JUST POLICE AND AND MARKET CONTROL THE CONSUMER AND CHILDREN PAY THE PRICE.
Just where is the positive VOTE NO 205 >>>>> VOTE NO 205
Does anyone really understand that it would be very for a consortium of county Attorneys to just take over the oversight of this board easy as pie.
Az has 15 counties all it would take is to have all counties give proxy to a special task force of a few deputy county atty’s on Marijuana.
Most counties rely on State monies for all civil functions. All the legislature has to do is hold back highway & medical allocations to those counties that dont capitulate on the marijuana task force.
After all thee no monies going back to small rural counties like Greenlee with a pop of 8500 why not let the big counties fight and reap the profits it’s their problem they are the marketeers.
So we have Pima, Yavapai, Maricopa, Yuma, Santa Cruz, Cochise, already against legalization who will be the 7 & 8th county to join.
Prop 205 does nothing for Arizona but make availability easier and market participation limited.
VOTE NO PROP 205 >> VOTE NO PROP 205>>> VOTE NO PROP 205
Hm, but is it a step in the right direction? Once pot use becomes normalized, even in a poor way, then the feds will follow eventually and later propositions can open it up further.
bslap, sorry I dont see this as a step it>>> will be in direct conflict with any federal agencies that might come into to play with federal agencies if the federal classification changes.
This department will try to arbitrate with the FDA, FTC, ICC, IRS, Banking, USDOJ. In short This department will be set up to isolate it from federal oversight and take steps to continue autonomy in this rough governing department.
It will work against the consumer the patient and the social fabric as a whole. This department will only protect the marketeers consumers as always fuck you!!! Listen we will market pot you can buy from us or go to prison either way it counts as a plus in our columns for reason to exist. Oh yea we are protection the children how long can this lie go on.
Prop 205 passes will be be #1 in incarceration we can make the top of the list in failed schools beating out all other states we will be 50th.
Yea Arizona needs to lead the pack in a new way to market marijuana the reason it will get better more enforceable less people in the market and a administrative court we own under civil laws no constitutional right’s considered.
Only a moron educated in Arizona could vote for this.
Keep the laws as they are. Legalize MJ and you take away a very lucrative side business that I, and many Arizonans enjoy!
I move about 1 pound a week to friends and co-workers. No unknown buyers. Very safe.
I only deal in high quality home grown and hydro, no mexican dirt weed!
I take in about $600 profit of unreported income per week!
Why would anyone buy mexican dirt weed when they can get high quality herb for a few dollars more?
Juan Valdez; Get a fucking job whether you know it or now you’re not even making minimum wage. I would love to see you grow and sell to a distributor, and meet standards, where you can get credit, better insurance, medical coverage will be before taxes. Buy and own property and have it legally protected. By the time you pay all the associated costs with being off the grid you make less than minimum wage. Right now dispensaries have unlimited grow rights and you if you’re good can grow/work for them.
With prop 205 this will go away dispensaries won’t have unlimited grow rights so it will leave this area for the metro Phx high efficiency corporate operations. Just another reason 205 is not good for Tucson. But hey if 205 passes I will try and look you up or someone like you meaning nothing really changes now does it