Independent Alaskans, known for their libertarian streak, were a key reason activists threw their support behind Alaska's effort to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014. But with only days until the vote, it's anyone's guess whether those live-and-let-live folks will go to the polls and which way they'll vote.

Polls have been inconsistent, with wildly different results, in the weeks leading up to Nov. 4. Some show that support -- nationally and in Alaska -- has been above 50 percent. But whether that will mean success for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska remains to be seen.

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Last week, the Alaska Federation of Natives, the state's largest Native organization, passed a resolution opposing Ballot Measure 2, which would legalize and tax recreational marijuana. AFN cited numerous concerns in passing the resolution, including the issue of local control, a contentious point in the debate over whether to legalize pot, and one not unique to Alaska, though it plays perhaps a more significant role here than elsewhere.

The opposition wasn't a surprise. Native organizations -- including numerous Alaska Native corporations, tribes, and corporation CEOs -- have consistently opposed the measure.

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Despite years of advocating for marijuana legalization across the country, there's one thing former Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper hasn't done. The 34-year law enforcement veteran has never gone door-knocking for a political campaign.

"I'm a little scared," he joked Tuesday, moments before he and a handful of other proponents of Ballot Measure 2, an initiative seeking to legalize recreational marijuana in Alaska, headed out to canvass Alaskans in Anchorage's Inlet View neighborhood.

Knocking on doors throughout the neighborhood bordering scenic Westchester Lagoon and downtown Anchorage was the last stop for Stamper, who spent several days making the rounds in Anchorage, visiting with media and appearing on a variety of call-in talk shows. The shows ranged from serious talk radio with conservative host Michael Dukes on KBYR to shows geared toward a younger crowd, including rock station KWHL's "Bob and Mark Show" and KFAT's "Morning Chaos."

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I'm the former chief prosecutor for the state of Alaska, and I'm voting "yes" on Ballot Measure 2.

Most of my career was spent in law enforcement. I was an assistant district attorney, a district attorney, an assistant attorney general in Alaska's Criminal Division and Alaska's chief prosecutor/deputy attorney general under two governors.

As chief prosecutor, I supervised all of Alaska's district attorney offices. I also worked as special counsel to the Legislative Committee on Local Option Laws, holding hearings to document Alaska's problems with alcohol abuse and writing Alaska's first local option law. Later, I worked as legal advisor to the Anchorage Youth Court.

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On Nov. 4, Alaskans will make a decision on Ballot Measure 2: whether to legalize the use of marijuana.

As we make this decision, it is important we base it on complete information rather than the propaganda that is being slung.

We have the benefit of not being the first state to wrestle with this issue.

All we need to do is look as far as Colorado and Washington to truly understand the effects of legalizing marijuana.

So what are we hearing coming out of Colorado? The legalization and commercialization of marijuana in Colorado started less than two years ago, and there are several problems, consequences and new financial repercussions associated with the law. They are reporting increased marijuana-related emergency room visits, increased hash oil explosions, increased marijuana-involved auto fatalities, and an increased number of workers testing positive for marijuana.

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Slow that train down, Casey.

Alaskans are deciding between now and 8 p.m. on Election Day whether to become the third state in the union to legalize and regulate marijuana. We should decide no.

What's the compelling reason to legalize marijuana? What do we gain?

Proponents argue that legalization is a triumph of reason over fear. Alaskans' passage of a medical marijuana law in 1998 fit that argument. But this version of legalization that is Ballot Measure 2 is a toke or two over the line.

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Kids believe what we tell them, but they're not stupid. As a society we tell kids many things about living healthy lives and following laws. And then, God help us, they see what we do.

Every kid since the beginning of the Drug War has grown up with strong warnings against all drugs, including marijuana, listed under the federal government's most dangerous tier of controlled substances. But this being Alaska, where per capita use rates have been among the highest in the U.S. for years, it doesn't take long to learn growing up here, as I did, that responsible, upstanding people from all walks of life use cannabis recreationally, even regularly. It's no secret that soft attitudes toward marijuana have existed in Alaska for a long time. They've softened so much recently that Alaska could become the third state to correct the messages we already send kids about marijuana while relatively more harmful substances remain legal and common.

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Opponents of marijuana legalization are concerned if Ballot Measure 2 passes, Alaskans would see an increase in butane hash oil, and with that, an increase in explosions in its production, although proponents argue the dangerous method of extraction could be strictly regulated.

The specific concern about hash oil is reflective of a larger question about the measure -- one on which the campaigns disagree: When it comes to the rule-making process outlined in the initiative, how much room is there for adding limitations?

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Dear Alaska and Oregon,

I hear you've both got marijuana legalization initiatives on your November ballots. You're thinking about taking the plunge. For those of you still undecided, let me offer some neighborly advice.

Two years ago I was in your shoes. I lived in Washington state. I had two teenage kids. I hadn't smoked a joint since college. I was leaning toward a no vote on Initiative 502, our marijuana proposition. Pot? Meh. I didn't like it, didn't use it, didn't want my kids to have easier access to it.

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There are numerous criminal justice statistics cited in support of and in opposition to Ballot Measure 2 (An Act to Tax and Regulate the Production, Sale, and Use of Marijuana). Recently, arrest numbers, prosecution outcomes, criminal sentencing practices, and incarceration rates, have all been referenced in ads, op-eds, and at debates.

Each of these statistics provides valuable information, but each represents only one aspect of the effect of marijuana on criminal justice in Alaska. The criminal justice system itself is comprised of multiple agencies (law enforcement, courts, corrections, each at local, state, tribal, and federal levels) which, while often working together, ultimately focus on separate tasks, then record, track, and monitor their progress differently and independently.

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On Nov. 4, Alaskans will make a decision on Ballot Measure 2, whether or not to legalize the use of marijuana.

As we make this decision, it is important we base it on complete information rather than the propaganda currently being slung.

We have the benefit of not being the first state to wrestle with this issue.

All we need to do is look as far as Colorado and Washington to truly understand the effects of legalizing marijuana.

So what are we hearing coming out of Colorado? The legalization and commercialization of marijuana in Colorado started less than two years ago, and there are a number of problems, consequences, and new financial repercussions associated with the law. They are reporting increased marijuana-related emergency room visits, increased hash oil explosions, increased marijuana-involved auto fatalities, and an increased number of workers testing positive for marijuana.

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I'm the former chief prosecutor for the state of Alaska, and I'm voting yes on Ballot Measure 2.

Most of my career was spent in law enforcement. I was an assistant district attorney, a district attorney, an assistant attorney general in Alaska's Criminal Division, and Alaska's chief prosecutor/deputy attorney general under two governors. As chief prosecutor, I supervised all of Alaska's district attorney offices. I also worked as special counsel to the Legislative Committee on Local Option Laws, holding hearings to document Alaska's problems with alcohol abuse and writing Alaska's first local option law. Later, I worked as legal advisor to the Anchorage Youth Court.

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It some ways, the Bear Tooth Theatrepub was the most likely of venues for a debate on legalizing marijuana.

The popular concert venue is no stranger to marijuana use. Depending on the performer, fans can be seen lighting up and the distinctive, pungent smoke floats through the air.

But on Thursday night, the room was filled with debate from teams arguing for and against Ballot Measure 2, which would legalize recreational marijuana sales and use in Alaska.

"I was asked to remind that this is a nonsmoking venue," said moderator Steve Johnson before the debate. "This seems particularly relevant."

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I don't approve of marijuana use for myself or my family, but I don't believe the dire warnings of those advocating to keep pot illegal in contradiction of the principles of liberty our country and state were founded on.

"The amount of money and of legal energy being given to prosecute hundreds of thousands of Americans who are caught with a few ounces of marijuana in their jeans simply makes no sense -- the kindest way to put it. A sterner way to put it is that it is an outrage, an imposition on basic civil liberties and on the reasonable expenditure of social energy."

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As members of a community, we have a responsibility to work with and for one another to achieve a common good. It is a good defined by both our common moral framework, and by the fundamental American values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The debate about marijuana legalization has left many struggling to find what is right. On Oct. 14, Archbishop Roger Schweitzer wrote that "Marijuana legalization would be immoral." In respectful disagreement with the archbishop, I suggest that persecuting individuals and families for use of marijuana is immoral. Moreover, the Archbishop's judgment ignores the negative impacts of our marijuana policy on Alaskans and their families.

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In denigrating Ballot Measure 2, Frank Murkowski did an about-face from his record of sticking up for a small government that didn't interfere in the lives of its citizens.

After reading former Sen. Frank Murkowski's opinion piece on Ballot Measure 2 I was struck by the lack of understanding of many of the issues involved. His misconceptions are summarized most eloquently in his second paragraph: "It reminds me of the herd mentality of the lemmings stampeding off the cliff with little thought to the consequences."

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There is a crystal ball to look into regarding marijuana legalization and commercialization, and it is Colorado - not Washington.

Ballot Measure 2 is almost identical to the initiative Colorado passed and far different than the one Washington passed.

Colorado has fully implemented its initiative, and now there are more marijuana stores in Denver than Starbucks and McDonald's stores combined. Washington has only started to implement its law, and only 19 percent of its stores have been approved.

Alaskans need to know about what is going on in Colorado and ask is this what we want in Alaska? In Colorado, there's increased homelessness, increased overall crime, increased alcohol use, increased marijuana DUIs, increased marijuana disciplinary actions in schools, increased public consumption and second-hand marijuana smoke, several marijuana-related deaths, child-friendly marijuana edibles, commercialized marijuana concentrates (like shatter and crumble), increased butane hash oil explosions and extensive marijuana advertising.

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Really? We keep waiting to hear revenue projections associated with the proposed commercialization of marijuana in Alaska. The spokesman for the Vote Yes on Ballot Measure 2 campaign said that it would be "wildly irresponsible" to make an estimate on how much money commercializing marijuana would bring into Alaska. (ADN 9/11/14) Here's what is "wildly irresponsible." It is wildly irresponsible to ask Alaskans to vote for something when you refuse to provide critically important information about it.

We already know that it will cost our state government up to $7 million to legalize marijuana and an additional $6 million to local governments for increased costs to police. That's just the start of the costs. Ca-ching. If you look at what is going on in Colorado you see more emergency room visits, more homelessness, more crime, more problems with smoking marijuana in schools, more suspensions, and the list goes on.

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With collectively over 60 years of experience in the field of medicine in Alaska, we have grave concerns about and oppose the legalization and commercialization of marijuana in Alaska. When Alaskans face this critical decision in November, it is essential that we all consider the implications to our health, our social service programs, our public safety, our youth and our communities.

Ballot Measure 2 seeks to legalize, commercialize and advertise marijuana and derived products such as drug-infused edibles and potent concentrates. These related products are very unlike marijuana of the past in their intensity.

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When I look at the state of Alaska's current laws on cannabis, I'm very confused at best. As a licensed medical grower who supplies my own spouse with her medicine, I've had a difficult time navigating the medical cannabis system in this state.

I've read that I can have up to 4 ounces in my home. I've read somewhere else that I can only have up to one ounce.

I've read that I'm allowed to grow up to six plants in my home. I've read that 24 plants is an OK number.

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