PRESS RELEASE

A local physician, a teacher, and a 23-year veteran of the DEA will join initiative proponents for a news conference in Phoenix to kick off the ‘Yes on 205’ campaign and highlight the benefits of replacing marijuana prohibition with a regulated system

PHOENIX — State officials have informed supporters of the initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Arizona that a sufficient number of voter signatures were collected to qualify for the November ballot. The Arizona Secretary of State is expected to officially certify their petition on Thursday, at which time the initiative will be placed on the ballot as Proposition 205.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol will officially kick off the “Yes on 205” campaign with a news conference Thursday at 10 a.m. at 3230 E. Broadway Rd. #260 in Phoenix. Campaign leaders will be joined by a Scottsdale physician, a Mesa teacher, and a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who will discuss why they support replacing marijuana prohibition with a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.

“Eighty-three years ago, Arizona voters approved a ballot measure to repeal the failed policy of alcohol prohibition,” said J.P. Holyoak, chairman of the Yes on 205 campaign. “This November, we will have the opportunity to end the equally disastrous policy of marijuana prohibition. Prop 205 would establish a more sensible system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.”

Prop 205 would allow adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana; establish a system in which marijuana is regulated similarly to alcohol; and enact a 15 percent tax on retail marijuana sales, from which a majority of the revenue would be directed to Arizona schools and education programs. The Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated the initiative would generate more than $123 million in annual tax revenue and license fees by 2020, including more than $55 million per year for K-12 education and full-day kindergarten programs.

For Immediate Release

Advisory for event TOMORROW (Thu.) at 10 a.m.

Contact

Barrett Marson, Communications Director

602-743-4120, [email protected]

WHAT: News conference to launch the “Yes on 205” campaign; the initiative to regulate marijuana in Arizona will be placed on the November ballot as Proposition 205 by the end of the day Thursday

WHEN: Thursday, August 11, 10 a.m. MST

WHERE: 3230 E. Broadway Rd. #260, Phoenix

WHO: Yes on 205 campaign leaders

Michael Capasso, Phoenix-based 23-year veteran of the DEA

Lisa Olson, Mesa-based teacher

Dr. Jeffrey Singer, Scottsdale-based general surgeon