cannabisnews.com: Alaska Ponders Pot Initiative 





Alaska Ponders Pot Initiative 
Posted by CN Staff on August 19, 2004 at 18:51:20 PT
By Fox News
Source: FoxNews.com 
Anchorage, Alaska — The last frontier just may become the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana completely. Backers of a controversial ballot initiative want pot to be treated just like alcohol. If voters pass the measure, it would be legal to grow, smoke and sell any amount of marijuana so long as one is 21 years of age. The state would regulate the cannabis industry just like it licenses booze and cigarettes.
"Alaskans are independent and I think Alaskans believe people should have the maximum freedom of choice," said Ken Jacobus, a pro-marijuana attorney. "Adults can choose cigarettes, they can choose alcohol."But state Attorney General Gregg Renkes said he opposes the initiative."It's going to lead to a higher rate of addiction for marijuana and other drugs, it will increase the burden on the state and I think it's really a disservice to our young people," Renkes said.Alaskans can currently possess small amounts of pot for use in their homes and medical marijuana is allowed. But the state has the highest drug addiction in the country and is among the nation's leaders in unemployment, child abuse and domestic violence.Source: FoxNews.com (US) Published: Thursday, August 19, 2004Copyright: 2004 Fox News Network, LLCContact:  comments foxnews.comWebsite: http://www.foxnews.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Free Hemp in Alaskahttp://www.freehempinak.org/Alaskans To Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18101.shtmlAlaskans To Vote on Pot Legalization in '04 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18067.shtmlAlaska Court: Drug Ban Unconstitutionalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17184.shtml
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Comment #19 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on August 20, 2004 at 14:42:58 PT:
WE SHOULD PREFER USE OF CANNABIS TO OTHER DRUGS!
There is very little connection, if any, to a high rate of drug addiction and the use of Cannabis. The only connection is the dealer with an available supply of and a puffery sales pitch of harder drugs, e.g., "Here, try this. This stuff is better. It'll get you higher." A typical neophyte drug user might purchase and use the harder drug, become problemated from the harder drug, then attribute Cannabis use to the hard drug addiction.The other day, I mailed $25 to www.taxandregulate.com or www.regulateandtax.com, whichever is for that Oakland, California, Ballot Measure to deprioritize Cannabis arrests. I also pledged to pay them $25/month until the election is over. I have been unable to afford that apartment move-in month and a half rent + first month's rent, causing me continuing homelessness. Yesterday, The Home News Tribune news room, www.thnt.com, said they will publish my Letter To The Editor asking for New Jersey to develop a Security Deposit Loan Program akin to New York City welfare's "One Shot Deal" [to be paid off within a year]. You people are aware of the targeting of the homeless for "qualify of life" and other elements of the "Broken Windows" theory of criminal justice.PLEASE TAKE NOTICE of the Calendar event listed on www.stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/350/calendar.shtml, for August 28, 2004, from 5-7 P.M., in Robbinsville, N.J., whereupon New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora is to announce a New Jersey State Medical Marijuana Bill. If anybody is interested, even if just to give your regards, even if you cannot show up at the event because you don't have transportation or the money, please give them an e-mail regards, natlfaxlst aol.com or call (609) 208-2806?We could save Alaskans quite alot of grief if we could somehow encourage the development of alternative sources of fuel. The Thursday, August 19, 2004, newspaper article in the Daily News, written by Stanley Crouch, Scrouch edit.nydailynews.com, makes a novel suggestion for China to demand the manufacture of hybrid fueled motor vehicles. In light of the consider number of motor vehicles being manufactured in China, such change would help to reduce global fossil fuel dependence, perhaps the global warming, the wars. I hope no oil drilling takes place in Alaska. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., one of the only members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee of New Jersey, is going to answer questions from the public, at his local branch office at 67 Church Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey, around next Tuesday. I have not seen him do anything about helping the development of alternative sources of fuel, encouraging solar energy. Why New Jerseyans vote for him, other than because "I'm a Democrat", kicks me in the pants whenever I think about it!!?! Section 8 is frozen in New Jersey. He voted against the Rohrbacher Bill which WOULD HAVE curtailed federal medical marihuana patient arrests. I can't help but feel that Congressman Pallone is just another Corporatist!I hope Alaskans vote for the Cannabis legalization measure! If the Supreme Court interprets "interstate commerce" in that pending case by the medical marihuana people, then perhaps the People and the States would be able to recover their Ninth and Tenth Amendment Rights to be independent of the United States Corporatist Government. www.thecorporation.com. 
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Comment #18 posted by CorvallisEric on August 20, 2004 at 14:30:39 PT
alcohol vapor + oxygen = explosive mixture
First concern that comes to my mind.
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Comment #17 posted by 420toker on August 20, 2004 at 12:41:36 PT
inhaling alcohol
most medical vaporinhalers use alcohol as a medium, I dont see dangers in this really , as a consequence the drunk will wear off much faster as a large amount is not stored in the stomach waitin to be absorbed. (clorox and amonia make cl gas, a formerly used agent before mustard gas) When hcl or a hypchloride when inhaled combines with the water in the lungs to form hcl acid which starts to eat the lungs. Alcohol has no bad interactions with water. It might be a safer way to intake alcohol as going to the bloodstream via the lungs rather than the stomach shouldn't cause alcohol poisoning as you quit breathing it, its over, unlike when you have many shots and pass out there is still much alcohol waiting to enter the bloodstream from the stomach.
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Comment #16 posted by Max Flowers on August 20, 2004 at 10:57:08 PT
Here's why it'll never catch on
- To inhale one shot, a customer must breathe the vapors for about 20 minutes, according to an AWOL marketing Web site. - That's ridiculous. To catch a three-ounce buzz (just a starter buzz for lots of people) you would have to be breathing from that thing for an hour straight. What a joke. Plus it would make you look like an old sick person with emphesyma (sic) breating from hospital O2 equipment. Not sexy. 
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Comment #15 posted by goneposthole on August 20, 2004 at 09:07:54 PT
good luck
to any DEA agent who is willing to travel to Nenana, Alaska to arrest some teenagers for growing and smoking a little reef.I would be willing to bet all of the all of the money in the world that it won't happen.
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Comment #14 posted by Truth on August 20, 2004 at 08:48:56 PT
solvents
It's dangerous and idiotic to inhale solvents, or drink them.
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Comment #13 posted by tokenitallup4162 on August 20, 2004 at 07:47:31 PT:
NO THANKS TO THE DRINKS!!!
 I used to be an alcoholic. It ruined my first marriage, my kids, my family and finally, my life. I havnt had a good drunk in 7 years now, but take the tokersmoker way and I feel better than ever, even though I am disabled. I can lead a daily productive life with smoke. I can deal with my pain, with smoke(maryjane). I am not abusive, with smoke. I am not a drunk, anymore, with smoke. You think the government would finally see something here, with smoke!!! 
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Comment #12 posted by siege on August 20, 2004 at 07:25:08 PT
"If they inhale too much oxygen, 
 they can stop breathing."
One of the FDA's biggest concerns about oxygen bars is the use of "flavored" oxygen, says Purucker. The flavor is produced by bubbling oxygen through bottles containing aromatic solutions and then pumping the vaporized scent through the hose and into the nostrils. Some bars use oil-free, food-grade particles to produce the aroma, but others may use aroma oils. Inhaling oily substances can lead to a serious inflammation of the lungs, known as lipoid pneumonia. Even if an oil-free medium is used, the purity or sterility of the aerosol that is generated cannot be guaranteed. Susceptible customers run the risk of inhaling allergens or irritants that may cause them to wheeze. Inhalation of live contaminants such as bacteria or other pathogens may lead to infection.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/602_air.html
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Comment #11 posted by fearfull on August 20, 2004 at 06:41:49 PT
Here is a thread from OG on the alchol vapo
http://www.overgrow.com/edge/showthread.php?t=505264
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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on August 20, 2004 at 04:18:09 PT
Inhaling?
No more beer? No more Maker's Mark? No thanks.
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Comment #9 posted by breeze on August 20, 2004 at 04:02:47 PT
Max Flowers-
Lung infection was what came to mind. If this is true, it is likely to kill as many brain cells as alcohol does when consumed, though it sounds like more. 
I rarely drink- try once a year maybe twice, but never to the point of passing out drunk. Even though it is said that drinking as many as two drinks a day is good for you. This inhalation buisness sounds dangerous, if not deadly. But kids in the past few years have been known to play around with inhalents- like furniture cleaners, glue, paint, etc.Another question- since its not being consumed, would the legal status for minors using alcohol change if it becomes/remains legal? Doesn't seem like it would, but then again- look at the idiots who are in power. They haven't done anything about restricting the age for buying household chemicals.But WHOA!!!- Isn't that, "THAT" ironic to have addressed an issue about chemical inhalents abuse among children and not do anything about model airplane glue being legal to purchase by a 12 year old? Does my point make any sense? Its late, I'm tired.
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Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on August 20, 2004 at 00:59:34 PT
breeze
Wood alcohol is methanol, which is definitely toxic no matter how it gets in.And this alcohol hit thing sounds like it would have hidden dangers for sure. Like lung infections or something like that.
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Comment #7 posted by breeze on August 20, 2004 at 00:20:59 PT
inhaling fumes
At the risk of sounding stupid, with alcohol, inhaling fumes is different than with cannabis, in that alcohol fumes are fumes from a liquid, not vapors from a vaporizer- correct? It seems that it has to be different- and likely more dangerous. Consider the fumes you inhale when using chlorox or ammonia, they damage the lungs- and can lead to resporitory failure when combined together in a single container, so I have been told.When I was a kid, and even a few months back, I have heard of people dying from drinking something called "wood alcohol"- a form of deadly moonshine. Could this stuff be in the same genre, or is it different in that one is not drinking it?
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 19, 2004 at 22:48:15 PT
John Tyler
I heard about it too. It sounds kind of dangerous to me. I guess since I don't drink alcohol it doesn't register as to why someone would want to do it that way. 
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on August 19, 2004 at 21:27:37 PT
Sorta off topic
I read on the CNN web site that an activity that is popular in Europe and Asia has made it's way to New York bars. Somehow alcohol fumes and oxygen are mixed and the user takes a "hit". The result is that you get the alcohol buzz with less alcohol. Blood alcohol is lower too. But you can get just as drunk. Needless to say some NY state lawmakers are against it already. Isn't this just a tiny bit different from a cannabis vaporizer kind of thing. Inhaling alcohol fumes. Inhaling cannabis fumes. Very little difference. Inhaling. This could get to be a pretty fuzzy line.
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Comment #4 posted by cloud7 on August 19, 2004 at 21:08:51 PT
...
I hope the Alaska initiative gets more coverage as the time to vote nears. Although it seems to be showing up less, I think this passing would be just as important as it would in any of the continental states. We should expect to see extreme resistance if this were to pass. But what can they do? Ban flights and passage into Alaska and declare it a rogue state? This would be a major chink in the prohibitionist armor and they know it.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 19, 2004 at 20:36:51 PT
dutz
They sure didn't mention alcohol. I wish they would be honest. I have never heard of any domestic violence as long as Cannabis was the only substance being used.
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Comment #2 posted by duzt on August 19, 2004 at 20:02:54 PT
and I forgot the quotes
"But the state has the highest drug addiction in the country and is among the nation's leaders in unemployment, child abuse and domestic violence."
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Comment #1 posted by duzt on August 19, 2004 at 20:01:25 PT
they forgot something
But the state has the highest drug addiction in the country and is among the nation's leaders in unemployment, child abuse and domestic violence.They conveniently left out alcohol abuse. They have they worst domestic violence and child abuse because alcohol abuse is out of control there. I predict all those problems mentioned decreasing if cannabis is regulated as fewer people will drink and thus fewer will be violent and a whole lot more people will have jobs.
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