Arizona's democratic system constantly includes propositions for voters to determine at the ballot box. Sometimes they are procedural constitutional and legislative things; such as determining language in a state or council constitution for a new position, or they can be politically cynical issues, or they can be legislative issues that the legislature does not want to take responsibility for. It appears that Proposition 203 - for medical marijuana - was in the latter.

Under Proposition 203, doctors in Arizona will be able to 'recommend' medical marijuana to patients suffering from certain "debilitating medical conditions." Proposition 203 also creates dispensaries to supply these patients with their medical marijuana, enabling patients to purchase up to 2-1/2 ounces every two weeks; the number of dispensaries are liimited to one dispensary per 10 pharmacies. If patients do not live within 25 miles of a dispensary, then they will also be able to grow their own medical marijuana.

Proposition 203 passed by the barest of margins in Arizona, some 4,000 votes. It is ironic as Arizona is seen as a conservative or red state, but California that is supposedly liberal was unable to pass a gay marriage proposition or a medical marijuana proposition in the last couple of years. Politics often fails stereotypes which seems to be the case in Arizona.

Rationally though, medical marijuana is a good decision and one where the population was able to provide the courage the legislature was not. There is little damage in it despite the state's war on drugs and absolutism in this area.