cannabisnews.com: Transcript: The Abrams Report: Alaska Initiative





Transcript: The Abrams Report: Alaska Initiative
Posted by CN Staff on October 21, 2004 at 08:13:17 PT
Partial Transcript - October 20th, 2004
Source: MSNBC
ABRAMS: Thanks a lot. Coming up, Alaskans aren’t only going to vote for president this Election Day, they’re also going to decide whether it should be legal for anyone to buy and smoke pot. We’ll talk with the lawyer leading the campaign to allow Alaskans to not just be up there high on the map, but actually to get high.(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ABRAMS: We’re back and we’re talking about smoking pot in Alaska. Here’s an ad that has been playing in that state. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP/POLITICAL AD) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alaska is still our final frontier. We live here for the freedom. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Far from the lower 48. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alaska means being free from excess government. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom from intrusions into our homes. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From intrusions on our privacy. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Alaska. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alaska stands for the freedom to live the lives we choose to live. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The freedom to choose. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The freedom to choose. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The freedom to choose.UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alaska is the last best place in America. (END VIDEO CLIP) ABRAMS: But Alaskans are going to be choosing on the Election Day whether they want people to be able to smoke pot. It’s called initiative 2 - Measure 2, an initiative that would remove criminal penalties from marijuana possession, including growing or selling it, so long as the government regulates the sale of the drug, sort of like alcohol. What few know is that the debate about decriminalization of pot in Alaska has been raging for decades. Back in 1975, the State Supreme Court ruled that an individual has the right to possess up to four ounces of pot in their home. In 1982, the state legislature made it law. Then, in 1990, a citizen initiative criminalized possession only to be overturned by a state appeals court in 2003. Now Alaskans are going to decide whether to eliminate essentially any of the restrictions. “My Take”—I hope it passes. There’s legitimate argument that legalizing pot and only pot could generate tax revenues and provide funds that try to keep it out of the hands of children. It would allow police to focus on the DUIs and violent crimes. But I get the argument on the other side that it sets a bad example and that making it easier to obtain pot, any kind of drug is bad for anybody. But if Alaskans want to be the test case in this to see how unrestricted sales of pot would work, I say let them give it a shot and let’s see how it goes. Joining me now to discuss is attorney Ken Jacobus treasurer for “Yes on 2” and a leading proponent of the initiative. He’s in Anchorage, Alaska, and in Washington, D.C. is Arthur Dean, chairman and CEO of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, an organization that promotes building drug-free communities.All right, Mr. Jacobus, you know the arguments on the other side. They’re going to say that to legalize marijuana is to legitimatize a drug and why do we want to go down that road? KEN JACOBUS, TREASURER FOR “YES ON 2”: To legalize marijuana will just simply set up here a system where adults will be able to acquire marijuana legally for their constitutional use, which is guaranteed by the Supreme Court, or for their medical use when it’s—when they can benefit from it. It will not make marijuana more freely available to children. Marijuana is used by more than—or has been tried by more than 50 percent of Alaskan high school seniors. It will take marijuana out of the hands of drug dealers and place it in legitimate enterprises. If you look at the alcohol, alcohol is much harder for the kids to get than marijuana...ABRAMS: But you can make the same argument about—you know—they say you can make the same argument about cocaine or heroine. JACOBUS: That it’s harder to get? ABRAMS: No, that by legalizing it, you’re taking it out of the hands of the drug dealers, then you can regulate it and you can use the, you know, the proceeds to try and prevent kids from using it et cetera.JACOBUS: As a matter of fact, you can make that argument. We’re not making that argument right now, but the hard drug dealers actually finance international terrorism. So there is actually a good argument for legalizing across the board, but I do not believe in that. By the way, I do need to say that I do not smoke marijuana, I do not believe in smoking marijuana, but it’s a right to privacy and it’s a right to protect our children issue...ABRAMS: Mr. Dean, let me read...JACOBUS: We’ve got the kids...ABRAMS: Let me read Mr. Dean, the actual verbatim of the initiative because it talks a lot about privacy. This initiative is an exercise of the powers of the Alaskan citizenry for the promotion and protection of the safety, welfare, health and privacy of the people, and the environment of the state to allow for the industrial and medicinal type uses of hemp, to eliminate the evils associated with an illicit market for cannabis and to promote temperance in the consumption of cannabis. Mr. Dean.ARTHUR DEAN, COMMUNITY OF ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS: Well, I would say to you that I represent an organization that has more than 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions, 16 of them are in the state of Alaska. As I travel around America, to include Alaska, none of the people that are involved in these coalitions from all sectors believe that what they are proposing is a responsible thing. It is irresponsible. ABRAMS: Why? DEAN: And I say it’s irresponsible because marijuana in and of itself, as proven by the National Institute on Drug Abuse is addictive. ABRAMS: So is alcohol, though, isn’t it? DEAN: I understand. And people that use marijuana have the following problems. Number one, many of them drive impaired. The—about 30 percent of the drivers arrested today are driving under the influence because of marijuana. Number two, 10 to 20 percent of crashes—fatal crashes in America are because of people driving under the influence of drugs. Marijuana is the most significant drug used. Number three, more than 60 percent of emergency room visits in this country are because of people that have abused marijuana. Marijuana prevents people from having good social relationships. Marriages fall apart. They don’t perform well in the workplace. So privacy is not an issue in my mind. It’s about public health and public safety. ABRAMS: All right, Mr. Jacobus, I’m almost out of time. But why don’t you respond to the issue about people driving impaired, for example, because I know it’s a big issue in Alaska. JACOBUS: Sure. People driving while impaired is a big issue in Alaska with respect to alcohol. When you’re talking about somebody driving impaired because of marijuana, it’s normally marijuana plus alcohol and it’s the alcohol that causes the problem. It’s the alcohol...ABRAMS: So, you’re saying it’s not a problem to drive...(CROSSTALK) ABRAMS: Are you saying it’s not a problem to drive while you’re high on marijuana? JACOBUS: Just marijuana alone? ABRAMS: Yes. JACOBUS: That could very well be a problem, but our initiative would allow—that would prohibit that. The municipalities and the state could still prohibit operating motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol. ABRAMS: But how do you tell...JACOBUS: ... marijuana...ABRAMS: How do you tell if someone has been smoking marijuana? Do you have tests ready for that to go if this passes? JACOBUS: Actually, there are tests, which test—actually, hand held could test motor control or coordination, yes. You can tell whether they’re under the influence of anything. It’s not like a Breathalyzer, but the idea is to test coordination rather than to test for a particular product. ABRAMS: All right. Ken Jacobus and Arthur Dean, thanks very much for coming on the program. Appreciate it. DEAN: You’re welcome.Complete Transcript: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6297982/Source: MSNBC (US Web)Program: The Abrams ReportShow Date: October 20, 2004Copyright: 2004 MSNBCWebsite: http://msnbc.com/Contact: abramsreport msnbc.com Related Articles & Web Site:Yes on 2 Alaskahttp://www.yeson2alaska.com/Backers Sue Over Opposition Accounthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19667.shtmlAnti-Pot Passage in Voter Guide Draws Firehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19658.shtmlAnti-Pot Fight Comes To Fairbankshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19647.shtmlAlaskans To Vote on Pot Legalization in '04 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18067.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #4 posted by westnyc on October 22, 2004 at 07:36:16 PT
Anyone living in Alaska?
Are there any members who reside in AK? If so, what is the "vibe" in AK on whether this proposal will pass or fail? Just curious!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by siege on October 21, 2004 at 09:57:04 PT
addictive
DEAN: And I say it’s irresponsible because marijuana in and of itself, as proven by the National Institute on Drug Abuse is addictive.How a bout it **DEAN** SHOW me how they NIDA establish the truth or validity of by presentation of argument or evidence.
thats it is ***addictive*** It doze not come any place ((close)) to the place in the Brain that is associated with, To cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance.
marijuana works in the frontal lob of the brain and addiction is further back in the brain.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on October 21, 2004 at 09:40:35 PT:
Same old story
Insufficient time for the reformer to answer the anti...if that was ever the intent. This was no debate, but another facade of one.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on October 21, 2004 at 09:11:55 PT
Driving
DEAN: I understand. And people that use marijuana have the following problems. Number one, many of them drive impaired. The—about 30 percent of the drivers arrested today are driving under the influence because of marijuana.Number two, 10 to 20 percent of crashes—fatal crashes in America are because of people driving under the influence of drugs. Marijuana is the most significant drug used.Good point! The iniative won't change laws against DWI one iota. Thanks for your input, you fundamentalist neo-nazi.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment