A group of Catholic bishops in the state of Arizona are opposing Prop 207, the ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana.
According to the bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference, marijuana is harmful to children and families.
This is the same group that opposed legislation in 2016 but argued at the time that marijuana was a “gateway” drug.
“I think this is just fear-mongering,” remarked Chad Campbell, the chairman for the Smart and Safe Arizona campaign. The campaign was responsible for getting Prop 207 on the ballot.
According to Campbell, opposition is “to be expected with any campaign.” He added, “But we have plenty of faith-based people, law enforcement that are on our side. So opposition is to be expected,” he said.
According to the bishops, problematic marijuana use is more prevalent for teens in states that legalized recreational marijuana.
Arizona State University Professor, Dr. Madeline Meier has argued that more research is needed for such a claim. “What I do think is clear is that when the law is passed in the states that have passed recreational laws, we see an increase in the number of people using in certain age groups — not necessarily adolescents — but among adolescents who are already using, we see an increase in cannabis use problems,” Meier said.
Proposition 207 would legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana for persons 21 years of age and older.
The initiative establishes a 16.0% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana and recreational marijuana products. Marijuana establishments would also pay licensing fees.
The tax and the licensing fees are projected to generate $166 million in annual revenue after the program becomes more fully operational in the next several years.
These monies would be deposited into the Smart and Safe Arizona Fund (SSAF).
SSAF monies would first be used to pay administrative costs of certain agencies.
The remainder of these monies would then be distributed as follows: 33.0% to community colleges, 31.4% to local law enforcement and fire departments, 25.4% to the state and local transportation programs, 10.0% to public health and criminal justice programs, and 0.2% to the Attorney General for enforcement.
