HEMP INITIATIVE IS FOOLISH AND DANGEROUS FOR STATE CITIZENS

As parents and participants in public policy issues affecting Alaska
families, we appreciate this opportunity to express our views on the
so-called "hemp" initiative on this November's ballot.

Initiative No. 5 is poorly crafted and poses a danger to our public health
and safety. In short, we think it's a bad idea.

The initiative legalizes marijuana use for all Alaskans, children and
adults. It regulates marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, opening the
door to buying clubs. It requires those incarcerated for previous
marijuana-related crimes to be released from prison with restitution for
fines paid and time served. And it prohibits state assistance in enforcing
federal marijuana laws.

Until the Legislature enacts a law specifically prohibiting marijuana use by
minors, passage of this initiative would legalize use by minors as well as
adults. That's because marijuana use is only illegal for juveniles because
it is illegal for adults. If you remove that prohibition for adults, it
automatically becomes legal for juveniles. Most Alaskans would agree that,
alone, is reason to oppose this measure.

By regulating marijuana in the same manner as alcohol, the state would have
to license marijuana farms, similar to current brewery licenses and retail
marijuana outlets, similar to liquor stores. This would mirror California's
scarred history of marijuana buying clubs. Alaskans don't want to provide
the next haven for legal drug purchases.

Public safety would be endangered under this initiative when it comes to
regulating the offense of driving under the influence of marijuana. There is
no readily available test to determine the level of active marijuana in a
person's system, nor a method to administer such a test, similar to a
Breathalyzer for alcohol.

For the state to apply this initiative, it would require that convicts be
released, have their records expunged and receive reimbursement for their
time served and fines paid. This is bad public policy and expensive. The
state also would immediately lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in
federal drug prevention grants and likely jeopardize millions more.

Another implied purpose of this initiative is to legalize possession of
industrial hemp -- the fiber from the marijuana plant used to make rope,
clothing and other industrial products. That's already legal in Alaska. But
this initiative, by specifying legalization of industrial hemp, gives the
false appearance that such possession is currently illegal.

It is important all Alaskans understand the effects of this initiative
before voting on it. Once understood, it will be obvious this proposed law
is foolish and dangerous for our state and its citizens.

Tony Knowles, governor

Susan M. Knowles, first lady