cannabisnews.com: Alaska Police Told to Keep Probing Pot Use Alaska Police Told to Keep Probing Pot Use Posted by CN Staff on September 16, 2003 at 21:31:26 PT By Mike Chambers, Associated Press Source: Associated Press Juneau, Alaska -- The state attorney general told Alaska law officers Tuesday to continue to confiscate all marijuana, even though a state appeals court made it legal for people to possess up to four ounces in their homes.Officers should investigate the cases in a manner that would allow for federal prosecution, Attorney General Gregg Renkes wrote to the public safety commissioner. Possession of marijuana remains a federal crime. "This includes seizing and treating as evidence all marijuana found, even if under four ounces in the home, and writing reports documenting the investigation," Renkes wrote.The Alaska Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 29 in the case of David Noy, a man arrested for having marijuana in his home in the town of North Pole, near Fairbanks.The decision was based on broad right to privacy provisions in the Alaska Constitution. It struck down a 1990 voter initiative that criminalized possession of any amount of marijuana.Renkes has filed court papers asking the appellate court to rehear arguments in the case.U.S. Attorney Tim Burgess in Anchorage said his prosecutors will continue to review marijuana cases on a "case by case basis."But he would not say whether they will dedicate more resources to take on cases involving small quantities of marijuana found in homes.Bill Satterberg, the attorney who represented Noy, called the state attorney general's action "saber rattling," adding that increased federal involvement could invite another legal challenge. Source: Associated Press Author: Mike Chambers, Associated PressPublished: September 17, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles:Law Enforcement Contends With Decision On Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17307.shtmlMarijuana Ruling Puts Police on Hold http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17246.shtmlAlaska Court Ruling Sparks Hope for Advocateshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17221.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by WolfgangWylde on September 17, 2003 at 04:34:12 PT All we've heard... ...from cops about marijuana is "We don't make the laws, we just enforce them". Now they're revealing their true colors. Oink. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 17, 2003 at 04:24:00 PT: Sue The State? I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that you could sue law enforcement and the state for arresting or charging you in your home when there is no law against possession of less than four ounces. I would like to see some of these suits in California too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dan B on September 17, 2003 at 01:54:57 PT Calling All Alaskans Vote out your attorney general. He refuses to do his job and represent the laws enacted by and on behalf of the people of Alaska. On election day, when you see "Gregg Renkes" in the attorney general box, vote for the other guy.If Alaska is one of those states where the governor appoints an attorney general, vote out the governor instead.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 16, 2003 at 23:47:50 PT Arthropod I don't know how this will turn out but it is alarming. I think the news is done for the day. I just posted an interesting article from The Seattle Weekly. You might want to check it out. It mentioned John Walters might debate marijuana legalization! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Arthropod on September 16, 2003 at 23:36:46 PT: FoM It just goes to show that the state govt. doesn't care about their own laws. Once one option is lost them they squeal to the feds. I wonder how they are going to set up these charges to be considered federal? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 16, 2003 at 22:00:12 PT Does Anyone Believe This? Unfortunately I do. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment