DRUG BILL HEADED FOR COMPROMISE

Committee: Lawmakers From Senate and House Will Convene.

JUNEAU -- A legislative conference committee has been appointed to
sort out the differences between the Alaska House and Senate on a drug
bill that would tighten regulations on marijuana, methamphetamine
production and steroids.

The Senate on Thursday rejected a motion to rescind the changes it
made to the bill last month, when it approved tacking Gov. Frank
Murkowski's "must-pass" marijuana bill onto a measure meant to curb
the manufacture of methamphetamines.

The marijuana bill would add harsher penalties for possession and
lists a series of findings in an attempt to overturn a 31-year-old
Alaska Supreme Court decision allowing small amounts of marijuana in
the home. It was heard by just one House committee and held there.

The House rejected the Senate's changes to the methamphetamine bill
Feb. 1 and asked the Senate to remove its changes.

The Senate rejected that motion 9-11 on Thursday.

Senate President Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage, appointed a conference
committee comprising Sens. Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks; Con Bunde,
R-Anchorage; and Hollis French, D-Anchorage.

They will attempt to come up with a compromise bill with House
conferees Reps. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak;
and Harry Crawford, D-Anchorage.

A meeting of the conference committee has not yet been scheduled.