cannabisnews.com: Anti-Pot Team Attacks Push To Legalize It
Anti-Pot Team Attacks Push To Legalize It
Posted by CN Staff on October 14, 2004 at 07:58:47 PT
By Tataboline Brant, Anchorage Daily News
Source: Anchorage Daily News
The governor, his wife, a key federal anti-drug official, medical professionals and top Alaska cops led an assault Wednesday on a ballot initiative that would legalize pot, saying it could damage everything from schoolchildren to the state's relationship with the military.The anti-drug team, members of which pitched their message at a press conference and a luncheon, represented the strongest, most organized airing so far of the opposition to Ballot Measure 2, which will go before voters in the Nov. 2 election.
The measure would make it legal under state law for people 21 and older to grow, use, sell or give away marijuana. It would also allow for state regulation and taxation of marijuana. White House deputy drug czar Scott Burns, at a press conference at a juvenile drug treatment center in East Anchorage, said that according to one state study, almost 50 percent of high school students in Alaska reported using marijuana at least once. "That is phenomenal."And dangerous, he said, because marijuana is far more potent than it was in the 1960s and '70s. "This is now a rite of middle school drug."Burns was joined by Alaska State Troopers Director Col. Julia Grimes; Deputy Anchorage Police Chief Audie Holloway; Alaska's first lady, Nancy Murkowski; and others.Dr. Paul Worrell, president of the Alaska State Medical Association, a private organization with about 600 physician members, said his group opposes Ballot Measure 2 because it believes marijuana is an introduction to other drugs and needs to be discouraged as a matter of public health.Worrell said he has taken care of hundreds of patients with substance abuse problems and that almost all said they started with marijuana. He said he has seen patients who have emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other ailments where it is clear to him from talking to them that the culprit is marijuana. At least four groups support the measure to legalize marijuana. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/burns.htmNewshawk: sukoiSource: Anchorage Daily News (AK)Author: Tataboline Brant, Anchorage Daily NewsPublished: October 14, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: letters adn.com Website: http://www.adn.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Yes on 2 Alaskahttp://www.yeson2alaska.com/North To Alaska! http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19638.shtmlCourt Chooses Privacy Over Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19488.shtmlAlaska Court Narrows Marijuana Search Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19406.shtmlAlaskans To Vote on Pot Legalization in '04 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18067.shtml
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Comment #18 posted by dongenero on October 15, 2004 at 07:40:12 PT
Looks like the sky will fall in Alaska if.......
One day Chicken Little was walking in the woods when -- KERPLUNK -- an acorn fell on her head"Oh my goodness!" said Chicken Little. "The sky is falling! I must go and tell the king."
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 14, 2004 at 19:27:19 PT
BGreen
I sure can relate to what you're saying. I have strong moral convictions. Some are more important to me then others. Some are personal but some are not. The most immoral thing I can think of is for a country to invade another country because we want control over their resources and killing, and killing and killing innocent men, women and children. There is nothing more immoral to me then that.We also are destroying historical sites and if ancient history is destroyed that is very wrong.
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Comment #16 posted by John Tyler on October 14, 2004 at 19:21:38 PT
phenomenall y low!
White House deputy drug czar Scott Burns, at a press conference at a juvenile drug treatment center in East Anchorage, said that according to one state study, almost 50 percent of high school students in Alaska reported using marijuana at least once. "That is phenomenal." Yes it is. It is phenomenally low! Only half have tried weed once. Come on. If that is true the antis should pat themselves on the back for their lying efforts.
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on October 14, 2004 at 19:18:35 PT
The Only Country That Executes Juveniles
is the good ol' US of A. No other country, even Iraq, ever sanctioned child executions.Anti-abortionists are also usually the staunchest death penalty advocates.We can't really trust anybody that says "protect the kids" but supports capital punishment for kids.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on October 14, 2004 at 18:30:41 PT
Related Article from The Associated Press
Governor, Doctors, Police Speak Out vs. Marijuana Bill October 14, 2004ANCHORAGE (AP) -- The governor, medical professionals and Alaska police have denounced a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana, saying it could damage everything from schoolchildren to the state's relationship with the military.Ballot Measure 2 will go before voters Nov. 2. The measure would make it legal under state law for people 21 and older to grow, use, sell or give away marijuana. It would also allow for state regulation and taxation of marijuana.Gov. Frank Murkowski on Wednesday an effort is under way to "buy Alaska" on the issue. He said he appreciated that Alaskans like their privacy, but there is a common good at stake."That is our youth," Murkowski said.The governor also said the military plays a great role in Alaska and legalized pot could harm that relationship."These are serious considerations for the state of Alaska," he said.Expanding on that theme, a Murkowski spokesman, Mike Chambers, told the Anchorage Daily News that the governor was drawing on his experience serving as a U.S. senator during base closure proceedings.Chambers said legalization could be an "aggravating factor" in such proceedings."This could be something that influences someone's decision," he said. "It's going to have a negative effect on our relationship with the military."Chambers said Alaska is also a major training center for the military."The fear is that something like this would have a chilling effect on the training dollars and where they spend them."Tim Hinterberger, an associate professor for the University of Alaska Anchorage's biomedical program and a sponsor of Ballot Measure 2, said it was not until after the initiative got on the ballot that the Marijuana Policy Project, based in Washington, D.C., got interested and started making large financial contributions to the campaign."There's no doubt it was a homegrown campaign," he said.Hinterberger said raising the prospect that approval of the initiative would impact the military presence in Alaska is a scare tactic.Dr. Paul Worrell, president of the Alaska State Medical Association, a private organization with about 600 physician members, said his group opposes Ballot Measure 2 because members believes marijuana is an introduction to other drugs and needs to be discouraged as a matter of public health.Worrell said he has taken care of hundreds of patients with substance abuse problems and that almost all said they started with marijuana. He said he has seen patients who have emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other ailments where it is clear to him from talking to them that the culprit is marijuana.At least four groups support the measure to legalize marijuana.One, Alaska Hemp, raised around $108,000, about half of that in individual donations from hundreds of Alaskans, and spent most of its money getting the measure on the ballot through the initiative process, according to organizers.Another of the groups has been bankrolled with half a million dollars by the Marijuana Policy Project and has used much of its money on television and radio advertisements.Pro-initiative forces say marijuana use is a personal privacy matter, is not as harmful as alcohol, and that taxing it could be a source of revenue for Alaska. They also say too many kids already can get their hands on pot, which is an argument for regulation and other means of controlling the drug.Col. Julia Grimes, director of the Alaska State Troopers, and Audie Holloway, Anchorage Police Department deputy chief, said marijuana is tied to numerous accidents, injuries and deaths. Holloway said Anchorage police have had homicides related to marijuana grows and profits. Legalization, he said, is not just about personal use."It's going to have an effect on people who don't use it," he said.Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=18&path=A/AK_MARIJUANA_INITIATIVEM_670
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Comment #13 posted by MikeEEEEE on October 14, 2004 at 17:32:17 PT
Kiddies
I hate when they use the children.
It seems fear is used routinely, another example is the war on terror, another war that can't be won. Parents and children are threatened by terror, then told to vote for the president who will protect them.I think I'm gonna be sick from the spin. Expect more lies from the far right, as the right and left become more divided.
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Comment #12 posted by Kozmo on October 14, 2004 at 12:11:42 PT
What a Doctor he is.
"He said he has seen patients who have emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other ailments where it is clear to him from talking to them that the culprit is marijuana."He can diagnose this from simply talking to them ? Awesome Doctor.
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Comment #11 posted by siege on October 14, 2004 at 10:57:43 PT
public health
Dr. Paul Worrell where your 600 physician members discouraged as a matter of public health. Then how is it that people and other govrements are using Marijuana to HEAL there health.
Then how is it that the AMA and the rest of the World has 10,000's of physician that say it is Good and works. compared to your 600 that don't think it Works, Or is it that you are just runing off at the mouth trying to look good. The culprit is marijuana it slows down the aggresses nature of emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other ailments. Being the gentleman that you are, it would help if you went back to the New Books and Documents for your information.
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Comment #10 posted by observer on October 14, 2004 at 10:29:36 PT
what the man said
[2]
The governor, his wife, a key federal anti-drug official, medical professionals and top Alaska cops led an assault Wednesday on a ballot initiative that would legalize pot, saying it could damage everything from schoolchildren to the state's relationship with the military.
(Sentence 2) re: "legalize" - Any mention of lessening the harshness of drug laws is portrayed as a sinful "legalization". Only total prohibition (or more jailings) will be righteous. (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
[14]
Worrell said he has taken care of hundreds of patients with substance abuse problems and that almost all said they started with marijuana.
(Sentence 14) re: "substance abuse" - Prohibition propaganda claims that all use of any "drug" is abuse. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse )
[15]
He said he has seen patients who have emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and other ailments where it is clear to him from talking to them that the culprit is marijuana.
(Sentence 15) re: "cancer" - Prohibitionist propaganda claims that horrible dangers are caused by "drugs." (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm )
[19]
The pro-initiative forces argue marijuana use is a personal privacy matter, is not as harmful as alcohol and taxing it could be a source of revenue for Alaska.
(Sentence 19) re: "marijuana use" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse )
[20]
They also say too many kids already can get their hands on pot, which is an argument for regulation.
(Sentence 20) re: "kids" - Prohibitionists forever claim that children are corrupted by drugs, and this is why adult users must be punished harshly. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm )
[21]
Grimes and Holloway both said marijuana is tied to numerous accidents, injuries and deaths.
(Sentence 21) re: "accidents" - Prohibition propaganda rarely misses an opportunity to link crime, violence, and insanity with "drugs". The propagandist insinuates that prohibited drugs cause evil, and if it weren't for "drugs" bad things would not exist. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm )
[22]
Holloway said the Anchorage Police Department has had homicides related to marijuana grows and profits.
(Sentence 22) re: "homicides" - Drugs, claim the prohibitionist, cause insanity, violence, and terrible sickness. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm )
[23]
Legalization, he said, is not just about personal use.
(Sentence 23) re: "Legalization" - With God on Their Side (prohibitionists assure us), only the continued rooting out of the sinful drug users (total prohibition) will do. All else is portrayed as the slippery slope to total legalization of all drugs for toddlers. (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
[26]
Nancy Murkowski said she feared legalization would lead to more absenteeism at workplaces.
(Sentence 26) re: "legalization" - Onward prohibitionist drug warriors, fighting the epidemic and scourge in the battles of the war against drugs! (Drugs declared evil by politicians, that is.) (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
[28]
"This is truly going to be something that is a cancer on our state," she said.
(Sentence 28) re: "cancer" - Prohibition propaganda rarely misses an opportunity to link crime, violence, and insanity with "drugs". The propagandist insinuates that prohibited drugs cause evil, and if it weren't for "drugs" bad things would not exist. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm )
[32]
Frank Murkowski said an effort is under way to "buy Alaska" on the legalization issue.
(Sentence 32) re: "legalization" - Drug policy options are presented as either total prohibition, or as total "legalization." No middle ground is contemplated in the "zero-tolerance" world of prohibition. Absolute prohibition executed with religious fervor and purpose! (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
[33]
He said he appreciated that Alaskans like their privacy, but there is a common good at stake: "That is our youth."
(Sentence 33) re: "youth" - Prohibitionists are champions of "the child", "kids", "children", etc. Only continued or increased punishments of all adults caught using "drugs" will send the correct "message" to children. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm )
[36]
The governor also said the military plays a great role in Alaska and legalized pot could harm that relationship.
(Sentence 36) re: "legalized" - Any mention of lessening the harshness of drug laws is portrayed as a sinful "legalization". Only total prohibition (or more jailings) will be righteous. (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
[39]
Chambers said legalization could be an "aggravating factor" in such proceedings.
(Sentence 39) re: "legalization" - Drug policy options are presented as either total prohibition, or as total "legalization." No middle ground is contemplated in the "zero-tolerance" world of prohibition. Absolute prohibition executed with religious fervor and purpose! (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm )
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 14, 2004 at 10:15:51 PT
Dankhank
I'm not sure I understand but if something isn't working right you would need to e-mail Matt Elrod since he is the webmaster for CNews.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 14, 2004 at 10:12:21 PT
Brrrrrrrrrr.....
Sam Adams, Comment 3You're right!That picture may ultimately drive me to turn on the heat for the first time this year.GCW...prayer time soon?
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 14, 2004 at 10:12:15 PT
Hope
I saw that kapt mentioned the pic so I thought I should upload it and put it on the page. It is a scary picture!
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 14, 2004 at 10:08:55 PT
Gorsh!!!
FoM!That picture at Freedom to Exhale...creepy!
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Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on October 14, 2004 at 10:06:09 PT
Dr Morrell
Dr Morrell is not in his office now, call and you can get his fax number. I had it but lost it when I hit post message and got no passwork error, hitting back looses the input.Anyway to fix that?3650 LAKE OTIS PKWY
ANCHORAGE, AK 99508Phone: (907) 561-4402
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on October 14, 2004 at 09:26:35 PT
Oh yeah, don't forget the monocle
That's what Burns needs to complete the look. I would pay to see him go about his job for just 1 day in an SS getup.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on October 14, 2004 at 09:25:16 PT
Picture
Look at that picture of Burns - a real friendly-lookin' guy, huh? He looks exactly like a SS general in WWII, just give him the dark uniform & hat with the eagle on it.Really, that's what the DEA & ONDCP are. A federal paramilitary group. When cruelty is required to enforce unpopular or abusive government policy, it's difficult to get local and provincial governments to enforce it, they're too close to their constituents, actually living & working with them. A more centralized, detached agency is needed. Sig Heil, Walters! Heil Hitler, Burns!
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Comment #2 posted by sam adams on October 14, 2004 at 09:21:54 PT
blaming us for the results of THEIR policies
White House deputy drug czar Scott Burns, at a press conference at a juvenile drug treatment center in East Anchorage, said that according to one state study, almost 50 percent of high school students in Alaska reported using marijuana at least once. "That is phenomenal."And dangerous, he said, because marijuana is far more potent than it was in the 1960s and '70s. "This is now a rite of middle school drug."Boy, that sounds rough. 80 years of your Prohibition policies have really screwed things up, haven't they? It sure makes a lot sense to blame those who advocate changing this approach for the current problems, eh?This is great too:"Dr. Paul Worrell, president of the Alaska State Medical Association, a private organization with about 600 physician members, said his group opposes Ballot Measure 2 because it believes marijuana is an introduction to other drugs and needs to be discouraged as a matter of public health."I couldn't agree more - we should DISCOURAGE cannabis use. But this referendum has nothing to do with DISCOURAGING cannabis use - it doesn't affect our ability to do that in the slightest. It concerns arresting people, taking away their freedom, and jailing them. It concerns armed thugs breaking into the homes of peaceful people.
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Comment #1 posted by Stephen Young on October 14, 2004 at 08:26:53 PT
Commentary on this story at Decrimwatch
Prohibition's Special Interest Groups Cover Assets in Alaska:http://radio.weblogs.com/0138970/categories/decrimwatch/2004/10/14.html#a106
Decrimwatch
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