Arizona Sheriffs Oppose Prop. 205

The Arizona Sheriff’s Association (ASA) today announced its opposition to Proposition 205, the initiative to legalize recreational marijuana on the November ballot. The ASA also declared support for the campaign to defeat the initiative spearheaded by Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy. ASA President Sheriff Leon Wilmot released the following statement on behalf of the Association: “Our state is fortunate enough to see the outcome of legalized recreational marijuana in neighboring states before we see it on Arizona ballots in November. We have seen various studies on the devastating impacts related to legal marijuana on the youth in those states that have adopted recreational marijuana, and the catastrophic impacts on service delivery in emergency rooms. Studies have also shown that states that have legalized recreational marijuana have seen an increase in impaired driving, traffic fatalities and criminal activity in their communities as well as an increase in marijuana use among teens. Furthermore, studies have shown that marijuana is a precursor to the use of harder drugs such as meth, cocaine and heroin. After witnessing the catastrophic results in other states paired with the intentionally misleading legalese in Prop 205's 20+ pages, the ASA joins the growing coalition of law enforcement organizations throughout Arizona in opposing Proposition 205,” said ASA President Sheriff Leon Wilmot. “No reasonable organization can support a voter-protected ballot proposition that would inhibit law enforcement from keeping AZ communities safe, increase traffic fatalities, and introduce thousands of our kids to marijuana for the first time.”

Download the press release (PDF)