ALASKA ADULTS CAN DECIDE IF POT IS GOOD FOR THEM

Which state is Tony Knowles governor of? In his letter to the editor
opposing Proposition 5 ("Hemp initiative is foolish and dangerous for state
citizens," Oct. 11), Knowles imagines some state where children and adults
have no access to marijuana because it is illegal.

Unfortunately the rest of us live in Alaska, where anybody who wants
marijuana can get it easily and where children sell marijuana to other
children in schools. Knowles imagines a place where the law of supply and
demand is voluntary, but in Alaska banning marijuana just turns regulation
of it over to the tender mercies of drug dealers in the black market.

Knowles thinks he governs a state where people place little value on
privacy and independence, but real Alaskans mind their own business and
ignore laws that interfere in the most private aspects of their lives.

Knowles fears that taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol would
create some sort of "buyers clubs," mirroring an outrageous situation he
imagines in California, though Californians will tell you they have no such
problem.

Proposition 5 instructs the Legislature to regulate marijuana like alcohol.
In theory, the governor of a state could have some influence on the
regulations the Legislature sets up, but Knowles seems to fear that the
Republican-controlled Legislature will propose handing out joints to kids
on street corners and he will be unable to veto it.

If Knowles wanted to govern his state, he would try to steer the
Legislature toward responsible regulations that minimize abuse while
allowing adults to make up their own minds about marijuana.

Knowles claims to be concerned about the safety of Alaskans, but the most
important public health responsibility of state government is to regulate
products that can be harmful when abused.

Knowles and the Legislature believe that their good intentions will obscure
the actual results of their policy, which promotes abuse by failing to
limit the black market. Proposition 5 forces them to fulfill their duty to
regulate marijuana.

Knowles also objects to releasing people in jail for a "crime" that
wouldn't be a crime if Proposition 5 is approved. This is circular
thinking. He'd spend millions to keep nonviolent people whose acts are no
longer illegal in jails cells that should be used for violent criminals.

Knowles also claims that Proposition 5 would reimburse people for time
served and fines paid. In fact it creates a commission to examine
reparations for people who have had assets seized illegally or who have
been unfairly punished.

If Knowles were acting as governor of this state, he would have a strong
influence on who serves on the commission.

Knowles doesn't mention that Proposition 5 also ensures legal distribution
of medical marijuana. The people of Alaska already voted for this two years
ago, but Knowles and the Legislature have failed to establish a reasonable
distribution system. As a result, medical marijuana patients still have to
get medicine through the black market.

A governor who ignores the stated will of the people shouldn't be surprised
to see the people going around him.

Finally, Knowles claims nonintoxicating industrial hemp is already legal.
Tell that to the farmers who want to grow this profitable and
environmentally friendly crop.

Hemp cannot be a successful crop here until the state tells the federal
government to mind its own business, which Proposition 5 does.

Knowles seems to think he is our father, not our governor. Alaska's adults
can decide for themselves whether marijuana is good for them.

But we do need the government to set reasonable regulations that discourage
abuse and block easy purchase by children. If we do that, we get the bonus
of millions of dollars in voluntary tax money from pot smokers.

Knowles wants to continue a policy that gives that money to drug dealers,
but many of us prefer that excess marijuana profits be used to pay for
better schools, roads and other services for Alaskans.