cannabisnews.com: Pot Bill is Out of Time 





Pot Bill is Out of Time 
Posted by CN Staff on May 09, 2005 at 07:45:40 PT
By Sean Cockerham, Anchorage Daily News
Source: Anchorage Daily News 
Juneau, Alaska -- The governor's attempt to outlaw at-home marijuana appears dead for this legislative session. With the Legislature scheduled to adjourn for the year on Tuesday, lawmakers said Saturday the bill is out of time. The news came just two days after Gov. Frank Murkowski declared it one of his "must have" bills. "I want marijuana -- this session," Murkowski said on Thursday.
The bill could rise from the ashes if the governor forces the Legislature into a special session. Murkowski has threatened to do so if lawmakers do not pass controversial changes to public employee retirement benefits and injured workers' compensation laws. Both those bills were still tied up Saturday in battles between the House and Senate.The governor has the power to set the Legislature's agenda if he calls a special session. So he could add the marijuana bill to the list of items to be considered, although he can't force the Legislature to vote on it.Murkowski has not indicated he would make pot part of a special session, a fact reiterated Saturday by his spokeswoman, Becky Hultberg.Another option for the governor would be to try again with the bill next year. The Alaska Supreme Court in September let stand a lower court ruling that says adults have the right to possess less than four ounces of pot for personal use in their own homes. The court ruled it is protected under the strong right to privacy in the state constitution.Murkowski's bill, even if it passed, wouldn't be enough to trump the court ruling. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/time.htmSource: Anchorage Daily News (AK)Author: Sean Cockerham, Anchorage Daily News Published: May 8th, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: letters adn.com Website: http://www.adn.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Regulate Marijuana in Alaskahttp://www.regulatemarijuanainalaska.org/ Marijuana Myths Cloud Good Sense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20623.shtmlGovernor Misrepresenting Effects of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20490.shtmlMarijuana Bill Would Overwhelm Police http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20473.shtmlPot Less Harmful Than Alcohol or Tobaccohttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20448.shtml 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on May 11, 2005 at 14:10:49 PT
Norml: You Helped Stop Legislation - Alaska
You Helped Stop Legislation To Recriminalize Marijuana Friends:We are writing to you today with good news from Alaska. Last night the Alaska Legislature convened for the 2005 session without passing two bills that sought to greatly increase penalties for marijuana possession. Barring a special session by the Legislature, these bills cannot be reconsidered until next year at the earliest.This is a tremendous victory for supporters of marijuana law reform. Governor Frank Murkowski personally introduced both pieces of legislation, and declared them "must have" bills this legislative session. When they were originally introduced, it was widely assumed that they would pass because of the Governor's strong support. However, thanks in large part to the letters of opposition from NORML supporters such as yourself, we were able to prevent this misguided legislation from becoming law.NORML would like to thank everyone who took the time to write their Senators and Representatives in opposition to this dangerous legislation. Without your help, marijuana possession penalties likely would have been dramatically increased. This is a victory that you should be proud of.To help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/We appreciate your support on this issue.Sincerely,Kris Krane, Associate Director NORML
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Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on May 10, 2005 at 05:20:08 PT:
Mr. Murkowski's bill had only ONE silver lining
If you read the remainder of the article, Mr. Murkowski stated that he had 'evidence' of cannabis's supposed deleterious effects, and WAS GOING TO PRESENT IT IN COURT.Think about it. If it *had* gotten to court, what reformer couldn't shoot so many holes in his 'evidence' that Mr. Murkowski wouldn't look an absolute *fool* for having the blind hubris of thinking he had all the facts? It would have been the very tactic the antis have been moving Heaven and Earth to keep from being forced into, as it's their claim of possessing all the facts, and the fact that their 'facts' are not able to stand logical scrutiny, that has enabled them to maintain the wall of impenetrability the cannabis issue has suffered from for decades. It would have played into our hands. This would have broken the circular logic stance the Feds have stood on for so long: 'cannabis is bad because it's illegal, and it's illegal because it's bad'. Being forced to justify their belief as to *why* it's 'bad' via the evidentiary process during 'disclosure' would have torn the guts out of their positions once and for all.The man is bound and determined to stick his head in a grizzly-sized bear trap. I say let him.
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2005 at 04:49:30 PT
Kaneh bosm - The tree of life.
2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #10 posted by OverwhelmSam on May 10, 2005 at 04:28:31 PT
Good News For Alaskans!
Great! If we can do it in Alaska, we can do it in 49 more states, and then ultimately the Federal Government will be forced to let it go.A word about beliefs. For thousands of years people lived and died believing the world was flat. So it is possible to live a life based on ignorance, just like the Federal Government has been doing since the 30's.Overwhelm Uncle Sam
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 09, 2005 at 20:29:25 PT
Just a Comment
I hope that no one takes offense that I call people ordinary people. That is said with the highest regard because it is all of us the ordinary people that will help bring the wall down. There I feel better.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on May 09, 2005 at 20:25:27 PT
Thinking about the prohibitionists...
I was wondering, "When will someone they will believe come forward and lead them into the light of the truth. When will it happen? What will it take?"Then I realized something. If God, Himself came to them and told them that there was no reason to fear cannabis and that it should not be prohibited and was actually beneficial to some people...they would not believe even Him, they are so set in their beliefs and hatreds and fears.
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Comment #7 posted by mayan on May 09, 2005 at 18:02:49 PT
Boneheads
All Murkowski and the prohibitionists managed to do was create an open debate about cannabis.MISTAKE!The truth got the better of the lies and even the mainstream newspapers in Alaska were ridiculing these fascists. Their political instincts were not very keen in this case. They underestimated their opposition and surely regret making an issue out of cannabis. Many Alaskans recieved a good education from the reformers. This is what happens when we are allowed to present the facts. The boneheads likely won't use the same tactics again. 
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 09, 2005 at 11:47:16 PT
I Salute
I want to thank all of the ordinary people who took the time to go to the hearings and stand up for their convictions! 
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on May 09, 2005 at 11:22:41 PT
Alaskan Freedom Fighters
Keep your foot on it, people! Don't let it rise from the ashes it so rightfully deserves!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on May 09, 2005 at 11:21:17 PT
Is that ringing I hear?
Yes...even though ever so faintly and there are still those who still work frantically to quiet it...freedom can still occasionally ring!Let Freedom ring! 
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on May 09, 2005 at 11:17:50 PT
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I'm thanking God. I'm thanking all the people who fought so bravely and tenaciously against the insidious fascist bill.Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much! Thank you very much!!!It feels so good to feel good about something for a change.Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
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Comment #2 posted by Taylor121 on May 09, 2005 at 09:23:31 PT
Props to the MPP
Props http://www.regulatemarijuanainalaska.org/home/Good job to the MPP and the ACLU of Alaska! Wow. Good job Alaskans who bothered sending their phone calls and mail against the bill. 
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on May 09, 2005 at 09:14:11 PT
HA HA HA
Looks like you LOSE, Murkowski. I love it when we're on the right side of the status quo - they use all the same tactics that are normally used against us. Everyone is in favor of changing, but somehow it always slips through the cracks. Spark up, Alaska!
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