Rulings move pot, justice reform measures closer to ballot

PHOENIX (AP) — Maricopa County judges on Friday rejected challenges to two proposed voter initiatives, one implementing criminal sentencing reform and the other legalizing recreational marijuana.

If the rulings are upheld after expected appeals to the state Supreme Court and if enough qualifying signatures are certified by the Secretary of State in the coming weeks, both will appear on Arizona's November ballot.

Opponents of both measures argued the 100-word summary that people who signed petitions were shown misrepresented the proposals.

Opponents of the marijuana legalization effort said its summary failed to outline a host of changes the initiative would make, including that its new 16% excise tax on marijuana sales could not be raised, that it changes the law on marijuana DUI offenses and cuts penalties for underage marijuana possession.

But Superior Court Judge James D. Smith wrote that the principal provisions of the Smart and Safe Arizona Act were included in the summary while noting that lawyers for legalization foes took 25 pages to describe provisions they said should have been included.

“Addressing legalizing a previously illegal substance must account for laws touching many parts of life,” Smith wrote. “But if everything in an initiative is a principal provision, then nothing is.”

The second initiative, called the Second Chances, Rehabilitation and Public Safety Act, is backed by a Quaker religious group and other prison reform advocates. It would implement a series of reforms, including ending many mandatory sentences for “non-dangerous” crimes and boosting early release credits.

Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall and several other Arizona voters sued last month, alleging the 100 word summary misled signers about crimes that would be...