dedbr

AL: Alaska drug enforcement challenging when it comes to marijuana

7/10/08/KTVA.com/ Grace Lang







Alaska laws mandate that crimes related to small quantities of marijuana are not a state priority to prosecute.

That makes the job of drug enforcement a challenging one for law enforcement.


"Federally, all types of marijuana is illegal," said Harvey Goehring, Drug Enforcement Administration's assistant special agent in charge.

"You can't grow, smoke, use or possess. Marijuana in the federal law is totally illegal."

But what about here in Alaska, where it's common knowledge that the green stuff is easy to come by?

"Truly marijuana is illegal," said Anchorage police Lt. Dave Koch. "Marijuana has always been illegal."

It may be illegal, but it's profitable and it's popular. Police are often making busts.

"Often it was every



day," Koch said.

"The most I've taken down is four marijuana grows in one day."


Koch says, our state laws may be to blame.

"It has to be in the privacy of your own home," Koch said.

"Can't be sold, can't be bought, can't be outside of the home.

There are a lot of things that basically no one can comply with because it doesn't just appear on your pillow at night."

Koch says, the ambiguity makes it easy for dozens, even hundreds, of normally law-abiding Alaskans to break the law.

"I think because of the lax attitude about marijuana, there are a lot of people involved in it that may not be otherwise," Koch said.

And because popularity breeds profit, officials say, that could lead to more crime.

"Because of the amount of money involved," Koch said.

"While marijuana may not bring about violence when you have that kind of money involved, violence follows that kind of money."

And that's when federal agents step in — as in the 2006 Ranes and Shine case, which is connected to two murders.

"There are home grows and so the DEA sees marijuana as a problem just like of the other drugs," Goehring said.


(Alaska's sensible approach to marijuana is what's needed across the country....... D)

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JohnBoySmoker

This is where the law makes no sense. You can use it but you can't buy it, sell it, grow it or use it outside. Laws need to be grounded in common sense to really be effective, wouldn't you think?

dedbr

That is the sorry part of the laws anywhere concerning herb. To some people this makes sense I suppose....


Some Where In Ded Land............

JohnBoySmoker

It sounds like it parallels the concepts of the Volstead Act, doesn't it?

dedbr

Of course it does. There is nothing new under the sun. Most laws are written from other laws. Saves time........


Some Where In Ded Land..............

Buzzby

You can legally grow up to 25 plants in your home. See NORML: Alaska's Marijuana Laws.

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Apov

being an alaskan smoker myself, i love our laws and the attitude of the entire state when it comes to reef, but Alaska's abrivation is AK not AL haha

SpiralArchitect

Having lived in Alaska 12, of my 20 years of existence I'd have to agree, marijuana is extremely lax here. It's tolerated on an unbelievable level.... I have had the 'pleasure' of being let off by an officer who knew we were in possession, and smoking on a few occasions, shit, we didn't even put out the blunt.

I walk my dog while smoking on the sidewalks at night all the time, I smoke on trails and in parking lots even, if someone sees us, we don't try to hide it. They usually wave at us, or if we happen to be on a trail, I've had multiple experiences where average-joe-shmo asks "Hey, smokin' the reefer? Wanna match a bowl?" I remember smoking pot with our High schools cook on a few occasions Shit, even some of my teachers smoked pot and it wasn't any 'real' secret to the students.

None of my neighbors would really care, and truth be told, their ain't a lot of po-po's who give a flyin' fuck. They have bigger worries....

This officer is right, you are allowed possession up to a certain amount of marijuana (both medicinal and recreational users I believe) but only within the confines of your home, which is also the only place you could 'legally' consume it.

Still, I think it's a great step forward.... and I can't wait for other states to take similar approaches. We are a medical marijuana state but we don't have dispensaries.

Alaska is an entirely different world than the lower 48. Up here, people don't seem to give you much notice, well, about anything really... Their is like a mutual understanding between all Alaskans that one of the reasons we live up here, is to escape the federal government as well as living in a kind of 'nature utopia'. Obviously, criminalizing and continuing the stigma of marijuana ain't gonna fly.

The sad thing is, marijuana is extremely expensive (fetching up to 440 an oz here in the Capital city, and up to 80 dollars an eighth in the 'bush') so it is putting a lot of money (we love our chronic!) into the hands of criminals. There are a lot of drug users/pushers in Alaska and undoubtedly, the profit from illicit marijuana is being used to purchase, sell and distribute hard drugs. It's serious problem, prescription drugs and hard drug, like amphetamines and cocaine, are almost as common as the sweet herb.

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Researcher

Well, on behalf of all of us in the "lower 48" states, we Envy your society's Tolerance of cannabis use!

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Researcher

Hey, it's just a daym plant!

SpiralArchitect

Well, I think I should point out discretion is still advisable. I am never blatant about my use, and usually take care to hide it, that's not to say I live in paranoia, but I just don't live in fear, I smoke carefully. A cop could, in theory bust you for marijuana, but most likely other criminal activities are likely happening. For instance, a drunk driver would be charged with possession along with his DUI, as with someone starting a fight, etc. As long as your not trespassing, quiet, courteous and aren't making a scene and are being safe I don't think anyone gives a rats ass.