Don't be fooled by the title of this proposition: The Drug Medicalization, Prevention and Control Act of 2002. Proposition 203, supported by The People Have Spoken campaign, is not a medical marijuana initiative; medical marijuana has already been made legal for the seriously ill with the passing of the Drug Medicalization Prevention and Control Act of 1996.

Prop. 203's plans are to decriminalize small amounts of the drug and eventually legalize marijuana.

This is the fourth proposition to legalize drugs sponsored by University of Phoenix founder John Sperling and his followers in the last six years. Sperling has a history of emptying his pockets for "unpopular" causes, according to azfamily.com. He has helped fund 19 drug-law initiatives and has spent $13 million on drug-law reform, not to mention $10 million on pet cloning and $10 million on saltwater agriculture.

The initiative will decriminalize two ounces or less of marijuana, which is tantamount to 200 small cigarettes

The proposition will require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to distribute for free these two ounces of the drug each month to anyone with a Registry Identification Card.

"They're asking DPS to break the law," Troy Corder of Battleground Arizona said.

The Associated Press noted that doctors wanting to prescribe marijuana have been threatened by the possibility of criminal charges. "There is a reason why doctors don't give out marijuana," Corder said.

Free distribution to cardholders could cost taxpayers millions, according to DPS. Battleground Arizona shows that additional taxpayer dollars will be spent to purchase the drug from University of Mississippi's experimental farm.

This card requires no written prescription before a Schedule 1 drug can be legally possessed for medical use; a simple doctor's note will do. Anyone claiming pain, nausea, or muscle spasms could ask for a recommendation, according to a press release. What is even more startling is that cardholders or caregivers can take home for personal use two marijuana plants to grow without supervision or limits of any kind.

With such easily obtained Registry Identification Cards, incarcerated felons could be back on the street selling marijuana.

Proposition 203, while it may increase to maximum sentence by 50 percent for violent crimes committed under the influence of drugs, will eliminate mandatory minimum sentences. Thus, preliminary offenses will be given civil fines. Within a two-year period, the first two offenses are each $250; the third or subsequent offenses are each $750.

Don't feel bad for offenders; the civil fine can be waived if the person completes a court-approved drug education program.

The proposition also requires parole for people convicted for personal possession of a substance, unless they are a danger to the public.

Though this may cut money costs for Arizona's prisons, the savings will be balanced by the estimated cost of probation in the millions, testing confiscated marijuana for purity, marijuana housing, and in the marijuana registry and distribution system. Prop. 203 doesn't include testing measures or regulation before distribution.

However, there is a referendum also on the ballot to compete with this pro-drug initiative which provides support for drug treatment, not legalization. Arizonans have to vote between the two; let's hope they choose wisely.