An Arizona Cannabis Legalization Initiative for 2020 to Be Revealed Soon

The Arizona Dispensaries Association (ADA) is expected to soon reveal a ballot initiative for 2020 to legalize adult-use marijuana in Arizona. The ADA’s mission, in part, is to “promote and advocate for a safe, patient focused cannabis industry in Arizona.” Their members include some Arizona dispensary owners as well as other medical marijuana industry businesses.

“At this point, we are working with general concepts, and starting the dialogue with a variety of stakeholders,” Steve White, the president of the ADA, told Phoenix New Times.

White continued saying, “Those who have committed funding want to discuss home grows and addressing past crimes, but keeping people out of jail for simple marijuana crimes is a very high priority. On the dispensary issue, this likely going to be driven by polling. … We need to be deliberate and thoughtful about what is included in the initiative to ensure success.”

A phone poll conducted by OH Predictive Insights in February found that 52% of the Arizona respondents favor legalizing adult-use marijuana in the state. 41% opposed and 7% were undecided.

“This time we specified whether it would be for adult use (instead of recreational),” a senior data analyst told KTAR News. “So, I think a lot of that is how people perceive it.”

Rudnick is predicting that if marijuana legalization makes it to the 2020 ballots it should pass, and it could simply be because of the change in language from “recreational” to “adult use” legalization.

Prop 205, the ballot initiative that would have legalized marijuana in Arizona for adults 21 and older in 2016, failed 48.7% to 51.3%.

Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC2.0 Modified.

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