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By Keith J. Allen
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 4, 1996
America's call to "get tough on drugs" has now reached Arizona through Proposition 200.
The initiative states that criminals committing "violent crimes" while under the influence of drugs must serve 100 percent of their sentence without parole.
Proposition 200 also calls for probation and treatment of those found using a controlled substance. It would also allow medical doctors to prescribe controlled substances for pain and suffering of a terminally ill patient.
The establishment of the "Drug Treatment and Education Fund" to be spent on Superior Court costs for placing people in drug rehabilitation and treatment programs, and the funding and founding of the "Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention," are also proposed by the proposition.
Support for this proposition is widespread.
According to former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, "By placing small, personal drug users into treatment and probation, the Act will clear up prison space for violent criminals and drug dealers."
And some feel the act will get tough on drug users committing violent crimes.
"The Act gets tough on dangerous, violent drug offenders," according to a letter written by Steve Mitchell, former assistant U.S. attorney and law enforcement officer. "It requires them to serve 100 percent of their sentence. In addition, judges may be more likely to sentence these offenders to longer sentences because the people have identified them as a menace."
But some Libertarians think that the proposition is just creating another "tax-hungry government entity" through the Parents Commission, according to a letter signed by 10 Libertarian candidates sent to the Arizona Secretary of State.
What may be the most interesting part of the proposition is the medical use of controlled substances to relieve pain and suffering for serious and terminally ill patients.
According to a letter written by 20 Arizona doctors, the initiative allows the prescription of controlled substances "judiciously and responsibly."
The doctors also state that the prescription and drug use must follow "accepted medical standards under the purview of the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners."
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