Yuma: Several religious organizations oppose Prop 205

Opposition to Arizona Proposition 205 is growing in the Yuma community.

On Wednesday, several religious leaders joined together through the Yuma County Interfaith organization to openly oppose the proposition to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona.

Religious leaders from the Catholic Church’s Immaculate Conception, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the United Church of Christ, the Congregation Beth HaMidbar, and the Yuma County Interfaith member institutions including Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Methodist congregations called for parishioners to vote against Prop 205.

One religious leader said he was once for Prop 205 but changed his mind after reading the bill.

“I decided I better go back and actually read the bill, and I did. I’ve read the bill from cover to cover and now I see why they were against it. There are some serious problems with the legislation,” said Bert Schapiro, President of Yuma County Interfaith and the Yuma Jewish Council.

Reverend Alberta Wallace, of United Church of Christ said,”I was very concerned about why we are choosing to build our education budget on drugs.”

Yuma mayor Doug Nicholls, and the Yuma County Board of Supervisors also attended the meeting.