Marijuana Debate Summary

Introduction
The article I chose to do my summary on is an online newspaper article for the East Valley Tribune. The article itself was on the new bill that will be voted on later in the week that has been passed in four other states that gives patients who have been diagnosed with illnesses that are not curable access to new medications that have not been fully approved by the FDA. My reason for writing this is because I find new drug developments interesting and this bill was also first passed in my home state.
What is This New Bill?
In Arizona, this new bill is referred to as Proposition 303. This proposition allows severely ill patients to be allowed to try new drugs and other treatments that have passed the first level of testing by the FDA, but not otherwise been fully approved to the public. This bill is revolutionary in the

Qualifications that make a person capable to participate in this bill is that the patient’s physician has to decide that the illness or disease that the patient is fighting is terminal, or the illness will be a means to an end for their life. Another aspect that determines whether the patient is capable to have access to treatments and trials is that the patient has to have tried all other facets of treatment before the physician can recommend them to try new drugs or treatments. (Ogden, W)
Voter Participation
This new “Right to Try” bill is being passed a little bit differently in Arizona versus the other three states. Voters in Arizona get to have a say this time around. In the previous states the state legislature voted whether they thought the bill ought to be passed or not. Voters should educate themselves on the contents of the proposed bill before making a decision, because even though this is a miracle for those who have exhausted all aspects of care, it could also potentially put them at risk for advancing the disease even further. (Ogden, W)