PANELISTS LEAD DEBATE ON POT

Pot: Audience Members Join Debate Over Measure

Emotion ran deep at a debate on marijuana legalization Friday at the
University of Alaska Anchorage Pub.

Near the start, the chairman of Free Hemp in Alaska, Al Anders,
described what Proposition 5 would do: It would remove criminal and
civil penalties for adults who sell, use or grow marijuana. It would
let people out of jail who were convicted of marijuana crimes that
are no longer illegal. It would convene a panel to study the
feasibility of making restitution to those people.

He argued it is wrong to keep "human beings in concrete cages"
because they chose to use marijuana.

Another of eight panelists, Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Bob Sanders,
who came as a spokesman for the No on 5 campaign, said people should
read the entire initiative. One part of it would ban the urine test
for marijuana from the drug-testing programs the federal government
requires of pilots and other people, he said.

"It doesn't just legalize marijuana," he said. "It causes a lot of
other problems."

But the questions from the audience of about 20 weren't focused on
the fine points of the initiative Alaskans will see on the ballot
Tuesday.

One middle-aged man in the second row said he recently started
smoking marijuana and found it "a wonderful experience."

"The government has lied to me for 50 years," said the man, who wore
a sport jacket and tie and didn't want to give his name.

"Justify the drug war for me," implored one young man, "please."

"Beer is what ruins people's lives," said a woman in platform sneakers.

"How many times have you heard 'Sorry I hit you, honey. It was the
weed'?" asked a guy in a striped hat.

A man in a suit said it would be wrong for parents to "sacrifice the
children" for the "selfish thrill" of smoking marijuana.

Members of the UAA Justice Club, which sponsored the event, moderated
audience participation so panelists could make their points.

Mike Demolina, a drug treatment specialist, said research on pilots
given marijuana and tested in flight simulators showed the drug had a
physical effect on them for weeks, even though they stopped feeling
high long before.

"Most people using marijuana will swear up and down that they don't
feel it after one or two or three days later," he said.

It leaches out of the body very slowly, so it doesn't cause the
shakes or visions of snakes, but there are withdrawal symptoms, even
if the user doesn't notice them, he said.

"So it's an effect nobody can experience or feel?" asked one
incredulous Proposition 5 supporter.

Anchorage police Sgt. B.J. Bjornton offered that 80 percent of
property crimes and 100 percent of strong-armed robberies are drug
driven. Drug users commit crimes to get the money for their drugs, he
said.

Anders said that's because illegal drugs are expensive.

"Why aren't people breaking into homes for beer and wine?" Anders asked.

If you legalize marijuana, the price will drop, he maintains.

Bjornton said you could legalize all drugs and give them out for free
to stop drug-fueled crime, but that would create a population of
nonproductive drug users who live off the larger society.

"Wait a minute," shouted a guy in yellow-tinted glasses. "You're the
one getting taxpayer money, not us."