Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

The Republic | azcentral.com

A Chandler pharmaceutical company made a $500,000 donation to the campaign opposing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, making it the largest funder of the effort to defeat Proposition 205.

INSYS Therapeutics Inc. makes a fast-acting form of fentanyl that is sprayed under the tongue, and "may provide pain relief in as little as 5 minutes," according to its website. INSYS also touts on its website a "capability to develop pharmaceutical cannabinoids," the active components of the marijuana plant.

In a statement, Insys Therapeutics said it opposes Prop. 205 "because it fails to protect the safety of Arizona’s citizens, and particularly its children."

"...We believe that all available medicines should meet the clinical standards set by the FDA. Insys firmly believes in the potential clinical benefits of cannabinoids. Like many in the healthcare community, we hope that patients will have the opportunity to benefit from these potential products once clinical trials demonstrate their safe and effective use. To that end, we are currently conducting research with leading universities and institutions to ensure the clinical benefits of cannabinoids for unmet medical needs including epilepsy, anxiety and PTSD," Insys' said in its statement.

Cannabis plants contain more than 100 cannabinoids. Some products created using cannabinoids have been licensed for medical use, said Sue Sisley, a practicing physician who is beginning FDA-approved research on the effects of plant-based marijuana on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Insys Therapeutics seeks boost from new drugs

J.P. Holyoak, chair of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, attacked the donation, writing in a statement the pharmaceutical company's financial backing against legalization is motivated by self-interest.

"You have a company using profits from the sale of what has been called 'the most potent and dangerous opioid on the market’ to prevent adults from using a far less harmful substance," Holyoak stated.

The recipient of its donation, Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, also has the backing of two county attorneys, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and various businesses.

The pro-marijuana legalization campaign is largely funded by the Marijuana Policy Project, which has worked to legalize marijuana in states across the nation — and medical-marijuana dispensaries, which would reap the financial benefit of recreational legalization. Under a provision of Prop. 205, medical-marijuana dispensaries in good standing get first rights to retail licenses.

Adam Deguire, campaign consultant for the anti-legalization campaign, defended the donation and wrote in a statement that the campaign is grateful for the funding.

“While the proponents of Prop. 205 are overwhelmingly financed by marijuana special-interest groups who stand to make millions from its passage, our campaign is grateful to have the strong financial support from many in the Arizona business community," Deguire wrote. "Arizona is leader in innovation and many of our companies understand that legalizing the commercialization of marijuana, will have a major and detrimental impact on our children, our communities and our workforce.”

INSYS Therapeutics has been investigated for its marketing practices by Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts and Illinois, as well as by the U.S. attorney for central California, according to media reports.

Half of Arizona voters surveyed in an Arizona Republic/Morrison/Cronkite News poll published this week favor Prop. 205, while a sizable share remain undecided on the November ballot measure. The poll found 50 percent of the registered voters surveyed favor legalization, 40 percent oppose the measure and 10 percent are undecided.

The poll surveyed 784 registered voters between Aug. 17 and Aug. 31. The margin of error is 3.4 percentage points.

In recent days, retired banking executive T. Denny Sanford gave $100,000 to fight marijuana legalization, and Ewing Irrigation Products Inc. kicked in $10,000.

On the pro side, the most recent contribution given to the campaign to legalize marijuana came from Phoenix Relief Center, a medical-marijuana dispensary.

Follow the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.