Alaska Will Vote To Legalize Marijuana 100%

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Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
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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.


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I personally think alcohol is MUCH MUCH more likely to contribute to child abuse and domestic violence.


:roll:
 
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AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
I personally think alcohol is MUCH MUCH more likely to contribute to child abuse and domestic violence.
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I agree, when was the last time you walked into your local 7-11 and bought beer? How about marijuana?
 
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nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I don't smoke, but I've never seen the big deal about marijuana.

in NYC, it's less expensive to smoke a joint in a bar than to smoke a cigarette ;)
 
CrackRabbit

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
In other News Frito-Lay has reportedly started construction of a Funion production facility in Anchorage.
 
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agnitrate

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
3,761
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Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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:thumbsup:

"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.
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Hmm.. That's kinda interesting. But only something like 650,000 people live there.

Well, on second though, I don't know if that helps or hinders his argument.. lol

I wonder if that AG wants alcohol banned, too? My guess would be.. not. :roll:

Alaska has a very large Native American population. It is a fact that native americans like to drink. Yeah, I bet that doesen't contribute to the domestic violence numbers.

When was the last time you met a physically abusive pot smoker? lol.. It's almost an oxymoron, at least if you're going to be stereotypical.
 
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NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
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If Alaska votes to make bud 100% legal, they will be bypassing federal law and will have the federal government tap them on the shoulder and slap them on the hand. How the hell do these idiots get into office? Jesus I'm not fit to run state government, but even I know that you can't go above federal law. :roll: The proper way is to change federal law...
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...
No, it doesen't quite work like that, I don't think.

It will still certainly be(and is) illegal federally. Currently, a few states have medicinal marijuana laws even though technically it is against the law federally. The state may turn a blind eye, but you could technically still be prosecuted federally.

I think that states have the power to make whatever laws they wish, even though federal law states otherwise and is technically a higher law. Not really clear on that whole thing, though.

It's just too low key for the federallies to get involved. Seriously, why should they care about someone smoking a bowl? Talk about a waste of resources.
 
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NakaNaka

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2000
6,304
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Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...

Well its completly different from the gay issue. That was struck down by a California court and the only way for the federal government to be involved is for a Constitutional Amendment to pass.

As for the pot issue: It is 100% a federal crime. All this would do if passed would make it illegal for the state to press charges but the feds could still knock on your door and bust your ass for making it or even just having it. What this would do in reality would force a debate on the issue on the federal level. With Ashcroft in power, I don't see how he could resist busting people.
 
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digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...

You are correct, state law does not override federal law. For example, the feds have and still do bust people in states where medicinal marijuana is legal. You have the gay thing wrong though. The people of California voted on gay marriage, they defined marriage as between man and woman that is why the gay marriages in Cali were voided.
 
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NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...
No, it doesen't quite work like that, I don't think.

It will still certainly be(and is) illegal federally. Currently, a few states have medicinal marijuana laws even though technically it is against the law federally. The state may turn a blind eye, but you could technically still be prosecuted federally.

I think that states have the power to make whatever laws they wish, even though federal law states otherwise. Not really clear on that whole thing, though.
Click to expand...

The constitution gives whatever power that the federal government does not use to the states. If the feds make a law about it, the constitution says the states have to abide by it. If the feds don't make a law about it, each individual state is left with the decision to rule on that issue differently, if they even want to at all.
 
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digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...
No, it doesen't quite work like that, I don't think.

It will still certainly be(and is) illegal federally. Currently, a few states have medicinal marijuana laws even though technically it is against the law federally. The state may turn a blind eye, but you could technically still be prosecuted federally.

I think that states have the power to make whatever laws they wish, even though federal law states otherwise and is technically a higher law. Not really clear on that whole thing, though.

It's just too low key for the federallies to get involved. Seriously, why should they care about someone smoking a bowl? Talk about a waste of resources.
Click to expand...

The feds have repeatedly busted major "medicinal marijuana" growers in Cali.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...

Well its completly different from the gay issue. That was struck down by a California court and the only way for the federal government to be involved is for a Constitutional Amendment to pass.

As for the pot issue: It is 100% a federal crime. All this would do if passed would make it illegal for the state to press charges but the feds could still knock on your door and bust your ass for making it or even just having it. What this would do in reality would force a debate on the issue on the federal level. With Ashcroft in power, I don't see how he could resist busting people.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but they wouldn't ever, unless it was some stupid attempt to make an example out of someone.

Unless we're talking about some huge growing operation, which probably doesen't generally happen in Alaska, since the season is so short... It would have to be done indoors, and that is just too obvious. But still, someone would have to tip federal law enforcement off.. that is less likely to happen if local law enforcement doesen't give a sh!t.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: digitalsm
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: agnitrate
Isn't it a federal law that marijuana is illegal? I didn't think the states could 'override' the laws like that. Similar to how gay people try to be married in California but are being rejected.

If this passes, will it actually go through or will the US Supreme Court shoot it down?

-silver
Click to expand...
No, it doesen't quite work like that, I don't think.

It will still certainly be(and is) illegal federally. Currently, a few states have medicinal marijuana laws even though technically it is against the law federally. The state may turn a blind eye, but you could technically still be prosecuted federally.

I think that states have the power to make whatever laws they wish, even though federal law states otherwise and is technically a higher law. Not really clear on that whole thing, though.

It's just too low key for the federallies to get involved. Seriously, why should they care about someone smoking a bowl? Talk about a waste of resources.
Click to expand...

The feds have repeatedly busted major "medicinal marijuana" growers in Cali.
Click to expand...
Yeah. That's a little different than just your average pot smoker, though. I doubt they would ever bother to waste resources on that, especially in Alaska. It would just be stupid. That's my point.

Originally posted by: Nik
The constitution gives whatever power that the federal government does not use to the states. If the feds make a law about it, the constitution says the states have to abide by it. If the feds don't make a law about it, each individual state is left with the decision to rule on that issue differently, if they even want to at all.
Click to expand...
There has to be more to it than that. The government doesen't acknowledge the medicinal use of marijuana; it is illegal federally to use marijuana for anything, yet it is cleary legal in some states. The only time you'll ever get busted is if you're a producer.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Nik
Correction. It's illegal to own, not to use.

:D :p
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Hmmm....

So does that mean by smoking it up, I am un-breaking the law?

:p
 
Triumph

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
:thumbsup: for Alaska.

As for their other problems, wouldn't you think having 6 months of darkness would be a contributing factor to those? Probably moreso than alcohol or drugs.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Nik
They're going about it all wrong. Thumbsdown.
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How else are they going to go about it? :confused:

They can't change federal law... lol

This is how it will happen. If enough states are like "WTF is wrong with you?", the government will probably cave.
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
:thumbsup: Not just for Alaska but for the idea of Federalism. It will be interesting to see what the Feds do if this passes.
 
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NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Nik
They're going about it all wrong. Thumbsdown.
Click to expand...
How else are they going to go about it? :confused:

They can't change federal law... lol

This is how it will happen. If enough states are like "WTF is wrong with you?", the government will probably cave.
Click to expand...

Uh... yes, you *can* change federal law. The same way you change state law. Write your state reps and plead your case that they can petition congress. That's how it's supposed to be done. Regardless of how hard it is or long it takes, I don't care. Do it right.
 
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