cannabisnews.com: Drug War Won't End Issue





Drug War Won't End Issue
Posted by FoM on November 01, 2000 at 06:08:19 PT
Letters To The Editor
Source: Anchorage Daily News 
It seems to me the coverage of Proposition 5, marijuana legalization, by the Anchorage Daily News has been slanted anti. Three columns, including one from Gov. Knowles. Many of their stronger points could be so easily refuted if I were allowed more than 250 words. I believe Alaska stands much to gain with its passage, mostly by not making otherwise good people criminals. It's a useful God-given plant for goodness sake! Should governmental law determine what kind of grog or whiskey one may consume? 
Vikings wouldn't have gone for it! Similar to coffee, one's reaction time and coordination are not much affected and overdoing it is uncomfortable (how much caffeine can you stand?). Next time you smoke good pot, notice you don't sleep for a couple hours (relax with your eyes closed, but not sleep). As with coffee, it must have stimulating properties. Sure there are bigger issues, but I, youth, and others disgruntled with the hypocrisy, injustice, and mythology concerning this issue are not going to be happy until it becomes resolve. You who think you can force people into submission with drug wars and law just don't get it! People die under such repressive thinking, causing one to disregard the law and others to stand and shout "don't tread on me." Establishment says to go through the system to change the system if you see injustice in it. So be it. I love Alaska and the life she's given me, and so I will make the effort. Vote yes on 5. -- Richard Olson Homer Vote No On 4 And 5: There are two initiatives on the Nov. 7 ballot that appear to be unrelated, but they have one thing in common. They have "fine print" that make them unacceptable regardless of your position on the major issues they deal with. The first is Proposition 4. There are many of us who want to hold the line on taxes, and reduce them when possible. If Proposition 4 did this responsibly, I might be inclined to support it. It does not do this, however. If passed, it would cut too much too quickly with no provision for alternative revenues. It would create inequities with similar properties being taxed at much different rates. Most importantly, it would remove local option. The second is Proposition 5. Once again, you will find the "Devil is in the details." Even if you feel that marijuana should be legal (I do not), this initiative goes way too far. In addition to legalizing marijuana in the future, this initiative would release from prison those who have been convicted on drug charges in the past. They may also be eligible to be compensated, with our tax dollars, for being incarcerated and for property that may have been forfeited as a result of their conviction. I don't know about you, but I think if a person breaks the law, he or she should face the consequences. I certainly don't think we should pay them for doing so. Before voting, please read the fine print. If you do, I'm sure you will join me in voting no on Propositions 4 and 5. -- Bob Bailey Anchorage Prop. 5 a Realistic Answer: I can't believe what's happening to democracy in Alaska. Last election we passed a proposition 59 percent to 41 percent to legalize medical marijuana, but in 1999 the Legislature amended the initiative to change legal access to marijuana for patients. I know many Alaskan patients who need to use marijuana for pain control and nausea suppression from chemotherapy. It's outrageous that they are forced out on the streets to illegally buy marijuana. Proposition 5 on the Nov. 7 ballot will rectify this situation and establish a more realistic approach to marijuana regulation. -- Chris Barth Anchorage Letters To The Editor: Anchorage Daily Newshttp://www.adn.com/letters/0,2654,,00.htmlSource: Anchorage Daily News (AK)Published: November 1, 2000Copyright: 2000 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: letters adn.com Website: http://www.adn.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Free Hemp in AlaskaAl Anders, Chair2603 Spenard RoadAnchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 278-HEMP E-mail: freehempinak gci.netVisit their web site: http://www.freehempinak.orgHemp 2000R.L. Marcy, ChairP.O. Box 90055Anchorage, AK 99509907-376-2232 (p)Fax: 907-376-0530 (f)E-mail: marcy hemp2000.orgVisit their web site: http://www.hemp2000.org Alaskans Can End Wrong, Ineffective Marijuana Banhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7476.shtmlHemp At The Root of Radio Ad Battlehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7467.shtmlPot Helps With Epilepsy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7459.shtmlHemp Backers Can't Move Mayorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7455.shtml No Proof That Pot is Dangerous http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7511.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Ed Carpenter on November 02, 2000 at 02:35:53 PT:
Refuting initiative articles in newspapers
You were relatively lucky to have been limited to 250 words.Our local newspaper, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, limited me to 100 words max regarding Massachusetts ballot question no. 8 which would tighten up rules allowing forfeiture of assets, and would use that money to pay for drug treatment instead of splitting it between police and prosecutors to spend as they see fit. I, of course, was for the initiative. The much longer articles were for maintaining the staus quo.
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