NO ON MEASURE 2: MARIJUANA HAS DONE TOO MUCH HARM ALREADY

Imbedded in the mission of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce
is the responsibility to weigh in on issues that foster a healthy
business environment, be relevant to our 800 members, and to promote
the Interior as a wonderful place to raise our families. With that in
mind, the board of directors of the GFCC unanimously passed a
resolution in opposition to Ballot Measure No. 2--the marijuana
initiative--that will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

This marijuana initiative would make it legal under state law for
anyone 21 years or older to grow, use, sell or give away marijuana or
hemp products. Sponsors of the initiative, and the Outsiders such as
the Marijuana Policy Project who are helping to fund this campaign,
would like us to believe it's about privacy, freedom and a better
Alaska. They rationalize that, since prohibition isn't completely
successful and comes at a price, we should just legalize marijuana.

Don't be fooled. This isn't about freedom, privacy, taxation or
reducing enforcement costs for you and me. It's about big money from
pro-drug organizations trying to buy your vote with slick but false
and misleading advertising. They want to establish our state as a
major drug capital at the expense of our businesses, our families and
our kids.

In the statement of support for Measure 2 published in the State of
Alaska Official Election Pamphlet, the supporters state "Many U.S. and
international experts have examined the issue, and all have concluded
that marijuana use itself causes very few problems for individual
users or for society." In other words, they say marijuana is fairly
harmless. Let's look at the facts.

Marijuana is far from harmless. In fact, recent scientific findings
about the drug published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy
are startling.

The health consequences of smoking marijuana are many. They include
significant increases in the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases,
suicide, depression and schizophrenia. Additionally, because marijuana
is proven to affect alertness, concentration, perception, coordination
and reaction time for hours after use, a skyrocketing percentage of
auto accidents and emergency room visits are directly related to
marijuana use. As we all struggle with the rising costs of private and
public health care, additional costs caused by the normalization of an
additive drug are unacceptable.

The social consequences of marijuana are also far reaching. Research
shows a direct link between marijuana use and impaired learning, poor
academic performance, as well as memory and attention deficits. The
facts also show a direct link to increased violent behavior--and
violent behavior leads to crime. One-third of all males arrested in
Anchorage in 2003 tested positive for marijuana, and more than 41
percent of male arrestees in sampled U.S. cities also tested positive!
The minimal dollars that might be saved by eliminating prohibition
will be far surpassed by increased crime, including domestic abuse and
child neglect.

For businesses both large and small, the economic consequences of
marijuana use are a significant expense. Facts show that marijuana use
costs us lost employee productivity, absences, higher worker's
compensation expense due to accidents, job turnover and overall higher
health-care costs.

In spite of all the serious consequences of marijuana use, some still
argue that it is no worse than tobacco or alcohol. So why not legalize
marijuana? Life has taught us all that two wrongs don't make a right.

Alcohol and tobacco have negatively impacted, directly or indirectly,
every Alaskan. They cost us all in terms of crime, domestic abuse,
tragedies, pain and death. Why would Alaskans then legalize marijuana
and add a third drug to the list of legal threats? Is legalization of
hard drugs next, under the cloak of "privacy"?

If passed, this would be the boldest and most liberal marijuana
legislation of its kind in the world--including Holland, where
marijuana is now legally sold. Has legalization worked for the Dutch?
Increased availability and normalization of marijuana has resulted in
a tripling of marijuana use among 18- to 20-year-old Dutch youths in a
12 year period--from 15 percent to 44 percent.

With marijuana acting as a gateway drug, cocaine consumption also
continues to rise in Holland, while our nation's consumption has
decreased. Because the health, social and economic consequences have
been disastrous, the Dutch government is now reconsidering its laws
and policies regarding legalization of drugs.

Please. Don't be fooled. Vote no on Measure 2.