SAY NO AGAIN TO LEGALIZED MARIJUANA

KETCHIKAN - Ballot Measure No. 8, a bill allowing the medical use of
marijuana, was devised by the pro-drug lobby as an attempt to open the door
for the use of marijuana by children and adults - at schools, in the
workplace, as well as in the privacy of their homes. This ballot measure is
portrayed as a "compassionate use" issue to gain voter sympathy. But the
initiative is not about compassion for sick and dying patients. Proposition
8 is nothing more than a clever ruse designed to legalize marijuana use in
Alaska.

This year, marijuana advocates targeted our state along with Colorado,
Nevada, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia because it costs
less to get ballot measures passed in these states and in the district.

The state initiatives are patterned after ones passed in California and
Arizona in 1996.

A National Household Survey shows that one year after those states passed a
medical use of marijuana initiative, the perception of risk of using the
illegal drug was lower and illicit drug use was higher in both states than
in the rest of the nation.

As of Sept. 30, the non-Alaska group, Americans for Medical Rights in
California, had contributed more than $125,000 to influence the outcome of
Alaska's election. This agenda of this California pro-pot group has nothing
to do with the welfare of Alaska's children, families or businesses.

Schedule 1 drugs (such as opium and codeine) have a high potential for
abuse. To become a medicine, any substance, including Schedule 1 drugs,
must undergo rigorous scientific testing.

Without such testing, the Food and Drug Administration cannot approve a
substance as a safe and effective medicine. Without FDA approval, doctors
may not prescribe a substance, and pharmacies may not sell it. Asking
voters, instead of scientists and doctors, to approve a drug as a safe and
effective medicine is an attempt to bypass the FDA approval process that
has protected Americans for nearly a century.

Proposition 8 is loosely worded so that almost any condition could create
the pain, nausea and muscle spasms for which a doctor could recommend
marijuana use. The use of marijuana would not require a prescription from a
doctor. A recommendation that marijuana "might" help is all that is required.

All symptoms and conditions listed in the ballot initiative are currently
treated with scientifically approved drugs - including Marinol, which is
derived from the active ingredient (THC) in marijuana. Marinol is currently
available as a prescription drug. There is no need for "medical" marijuana.

Alaska produces marijuana with the highest THC potency (29.86 percent) in
the nation. Ballot Measure No. 8 will provide no control over the potency
of the marijuana nor the dosage used. A person would be allowed to possess
an ounce of marijuana (equivalent to nearly 100 rolled joints) and would be
allowed to personally grow up to six plants.

Under the proposition, marijuana would be available to minors with parental
consent. Increased accessibility to pot by children is guaranteed. From
1975 when marijuana was decriminalized in Alaska until 1990, our youth were
using marijuana at twice the rate of other youngsters across the nation.

Legalization efforts, including those that insist that illicit drugs are
medicines, appear to be contributing to the erosion in young people's
belief that drugs are harmful and to stimulating their increased use.

If this initiative passes, it will seriously undermine all drug prevention
work with Alaska's youth. Ballot Measure No. 8:

* Eliminates effective law enforcement.

* Allows prison inmates who have a medical condition to use marijuana.

* Would not prohibit marijuana use in the workplace, thus having a
devastating effect on drug-free workplace policies.

* Would eliminate effective drug testing policies in the workplace.

The American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society have
rejected marijuana as "medicine" and denounced it as harmful. There are no
prescribed medications today that are ingested by smoking.

Alaskans said NO to marijuana at the polls in 1989. Alaskans must say NO
again. No legal marijuana. Not now. Not ever.

It is in the best interest of all Alaskans that voters reject Ballot
Measure No. 8.

Checked-by: Richard Lake