LAWMAKERS MERGE MARIJUANA, METH BILLS

Senate: Omnibus Drug Measure Aims to Reduce Law Enforcement Headaches.

JUNEAU -- Two bills that aim to curb the production and use of
marijuana and methamphetamine in Alaska have been folded into one.

The omnibus measure was moved out of the Senate Finance Committee on
Thursday for possible Senate floor debate and a vote.

Finance co-chairwoman Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, said merging the bills
would create a more efficient vehicle to move the measures through.
She said both drugs are controlled substances that create headaches
for law enforcement.

"We are looking at the final result of (ingesting) the product and
what public safety officials and others are going through to curb
that," she said.

Backed by Gov. Frank Murkowski, House Bill 149 would roll back a
30-year-old Supreme Court decision that makes it legal for Alaskans
to possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana for personal use in their
homes. It would make possession of 4 ounces or more a felony.

State officials say recriminalizing marijuana would help state
troopers crack down on commercial growers by making it easier to
obtain search warrants. Critics counter, however, the penalties only
target so-called recreational users and the bill does not enhance
fines for those possessing a pound or more of marijuana.

Lawmakers also heard testimony from experts called by bill opponents
to counter the state's claims about marijuana being more potent now
than in mid-1970s, when the state's high court issued its ruling.

Dr. Mitchell Earlywine, a professor at New York State University,
said marijuana is stronger than it used to be but not to the extent
that has been reported. He said the methods for measuring the drug's
potency were flawed in the 1970s. He estimates marijuana is about
twice as strong as it was.

The bill says it is 14 times stronger.

Earlywine also challenged the state's contention that today's pot is
more dangerous, but he agreed with the state that the drug should not
be used by or around children.

"As more and more work is coming out on the brain, it's clearer and
clear that marijuana is hard on the developing brain. I'm absolutely
certain this is not something teens should play with," he said.

Lawmakers amended the bill on Thursday to remove several references
to Alaska Natives, which were included to note the drug's
disproportionate use and affects among Natives. Sen. Donny Olsen,
D-Nome, said the references made it appear the law was targeting
Alaska Natives.

The new omnibus measure would also would limit the sale of a popular
decongestant, Sudafed, which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

It would also list certain anabolic steroids as controlled
substances. The performance-enhancing drugs are known to cause
serious physical and psychological side effects.