GOVERNOR CONCERNED ABOUT RE-LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Governor Frank H. Murkowski reacted to today's decision of the Alaska court
of appeals re-legalizing the use of marijuana in private homes by directing
the Attorney General to review the case and make recommendations on how the
state should proceed.

"I am very concerned about this, as are many Alaskans," Murkowski said.

"Substance abuse continues to have a devastating impact on the people of
Alaska and on our communities," Murkowski said. "It is regrettable that the
court of appeals has, in essence, rejected the will of the people of Alaska
who re-criminalized the use of marijuana in a 1990 initiative.

"The flow of marijuana, along with alcohol and other drugs, continues into
our rural villages. Coincidentally, I have just received a report from the
Department of Public Safety regarding the interdiction of drugs and alcohol
being sent through the mail to rural villages, and, unfortunately, the
incidence remains very high. Substance abuse is causing great harm to our
rural s ociety, specifically our young people.

"Alaskans who use marijuana should remember that its use or possession
remains illegal under federal law," Murkowski said. "And parents who use
marijuana should think about the example they set for their children."