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Buzzby

Marijuana: Alaska House Rejects Recriminalization Bill
StopTheDrugWar | 04/21/2006

The Alaska House of Representatives Wednesday defeated a bill that would have recriminalized marijuana possession. Pushed aggressively by Gov. Frank Murkowski (R), the bill sought to set up a challenge to previous Alaska Supreme Court rulings that found the state constitution's privacy provisions protected the right of Alaskans to possess up to one-quarter pound in their homes.

In an effort to ensure the bill's success, Murkowski's legislative allies tied it to a methamphetamine bill, but instead the combined measure went down in flames on a 21-19 vote.

"This bill was a baldly unconstitutional effort to override the right of privacy guaranteed to all Alaskans in the state constitution," said Michael McKey, a legislative analyst with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) who had worked closely with local groups to defeat the measure. "The House has wisely refused to be railroaded into rubber-stamping a bad bill. Now the legislature must take the time needed to properly examine the scientific and constitutional issues involved."

The bill contained a number of "findings" that purported to demonstrate that the weed of today is so much stronger than the stuff of yesteryear as to compel the court to revisit its landmark 1975 decision in Ravin v. State.

"The governor tried to circumvent Alaska's constitution by getting the legislature to write scientific falsehoods into law," McKey said. "Having wisely rejected the effort to rush this bad bill through by tacking it onto an unrelated methamphetamine bill, the House should start from square one and take an honest, science-based look at the marijuana issue. If they do, they will see that it makes much more sense to set up a responsible system for regulating marijuana that's consistent with Alaska's constitution and values, rather than attempt another end-run around Alaskans' constitutional right of privacy."

Alaska remains the only state where it is legal for any adult to possess up to a quarter-pound of marijuana.

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Plainsman1963

Another strike for the Governor. They're not going to reelect this guy, are they?

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"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

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Dalamar49

I doubt he'll get reelected. I read recently (can't find the link) that Governor Murkowski is the least popular governor in the United States.

Alaskans loathe government spending and Murkowski has rapidly increased the amoutn of government spending during his tenure.

Lothar121

Ever let that statement sink in? It puts a smile to my face. Let's keep the pressure up.

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Little Nicky

Don't delude yourself, its still against federal law.

 

Serial Burn

yes it is still against federal law, but there are at least standing up for thier states rights, we should all follow suite. also when is the last time you heard of a big DEA bust in Alaska. They are the biggest state but they only have two DEA offices.
This is a little unrelated, but why is it that the DEA attacks sick people for using weed, but States need to set up their own task forces for real serious drugs like meth, is it cause the DEA realizes that people involved with meth are the ones that will shoot back. Local law enforcment agencies might want to ask this question.

Buzzby

Alaska might have the greatest number of square miles, but the total population, 627,000, is no greater than that of a medium-sized city.

Cleveland has a greater population and only one DEA office.