DON'T GET DISTRACTED ON PROP. 5

Certain provisions of Proposition 5, 99HEMP, are causing much angst
and wringing of hands. Of particular concern are those provisions
calling for amnesty, discussion of restitution and an 18-year age of
consent.

Please consider the following: Proposition 5 is a citizen initiative.
Under Alaska law, once the voters pass an initiative the Legislature
has about three months to amend it before it becomes law. The
Legislature can and will eliminate many of the more progressive and
controversial measures. If you're concerned this law goes too far,
don't be. By the time the Legislature gets done with it, the actual
law will probably not go far enough. Just check out what happened to
97PSDM, the 1998 initiative allowing the medical use of marijuana.
Although it passed with more than 58 percent of the vote, the law
that went into effect was barely recognizable.

The vocal opponents of Proposition 5 would like you to believe that
an initiative, once passed, becomes law. Scare campaigns focus on
details that will not exist in the final law. Please don't be
distracted. The central issue is this: If you live in Alaska, someone
you love is a responsible user of marijuana. Do you believe that he
or she should go to jail for that choice? If the answer is no, please
vote yes on 5.