Pubdate: Sun, 17 Sep 2000
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 2000 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Author: Scot Dunnachie

MARIJUANA IS FREEDOM ISSUE

The big concern to all of us is public safety and safe streets. The 
marijuana initiative clearly covers public safety. Most testing for 
marijuana nowadays is directed toward inert cannabis, meaning you are 
tested on what you did last week, not what is affecting you now (similar to 
being arrested for driving to work because you were drunk last night).

Restitution is not mandated, a study is mandated. There will be an advisory 
panel to study the "feasibility and methods" of making restitution.

Alcohol in the state of Alaska is legal at 21, cigarettes are legal at 19, 
and marijuana will be legal at 18. There has in the history of the world 
been no proven case in which someone has died from marijuana use. People 
who can vote, fight for their country and be sent to prison should indeed 
have the right to smoke a substance that does not kill. Making a substance 
legal and regulated does not give kids more access to it. Let us educate 
our children what not to do, still giving them room to make wrong choices 
without the black market risks.

Keep in mind when you vote this November 7 on Proposition 5 that all we 
Alaskans want is our freedom, our right to privacy and our right to life, 
liberty and pursuit of happiness.

- -- Scot Dunnachie

Anchorage
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