RENEWED BATTLE OVER MARIJUANA PLOWS GROUND SMOOTHED BY COURTS

"Bottom Line: All right, let's have a marijuana fight. Again. But
there's little to gain, no matter who wins" ("Marijuana," June 10
editorial). It's true, there's very little to gain. Opponents of the
new law will gain nothing in this fight, they'll only keep the status
quo written years ago by the Supreme Court. Law enforcement stands to
gain power it neither wants nor needs (the editorial said, "Alaska's
public safety crew has higher priorities," absolutely true). However,
who stands to lose if the new outlaw status for cannabis users is upheld?

Well, let's see. Start with the 44 percent who voted in 2004 to
remove the plant's prohibition status, permitting its effective
regulation. To that number add those who voted no in 2004 but would
have voted yes had the amount been limited to four ounces, for use
only in the home. This majority of thoughtful Alaskans takes the
constitution seriously and does not wish to start dismantling the
carefully considered freedoms it guarantees us, beginning with one
protection repeatedly reaffirmed by the Alaska courts. If, as the
editorial said, "on balance, marijuana is not such a threat to
society that its use in the home should be considered criminal,"
certainly we don't want the Legislature attacking the courts'
interpretation of the constitution over it either. Bottom line:
There's little to gain, but much to lose.

Tim Hinterberger

Chair, Alaska Drug Policy Forum

Anchorage