Legislators on Wednesday heard public testimony about the newest version of a bill that deals with the criminal aspects of marijuana law in Alaska.
Introduced Monday in the Senate Finance Committee, the new version of SB 30 reinstates marijuana as a controlled substance. Among other changes to the bill, some crimes could be prosecuted as felonies, and an open container is broadly defined.
The bill had passed from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which drafted a bill that removed marijuana from the list of controlled substances.
Judiciary committee member Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, expressed frustration Wednesday regarding the bill’s changes in the finance committee.
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Wielechowski called placing marijuana back on the controlled substances list a “slippery slope of philosophy," saying that if marijuana is viewed as a controlled substance, and thus a dangerous substance, then legislation is crafted with a different mindset. That’s why felonies have shown up in the bill, Wielechowski said.
“People can say it’s just a philosophical debate … but you’re seeing real policy ramifications,” Wielechowski said.
I can tell you right now that the public response to this is going to be deafening.
Voters were quite clear that they wanted the recreational use of pot to be legal, and that it should be sold just like alcohol is currently being sold.
This reversal could cause some serious political problems for the lawmakers who get blamed for it.
Trust me.
Get used to it. In Missouri, voters were clear they did not want concealed carry. The [bonehead] legislature decided the voters didn't really know what they wanted and passed cc anyway.
ReplyDeleteI really doubt the majority of people could care less about weed, one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteYou're wrong.
Delete@ 5:12 am
DeleteNo, I think you are, most people could care less if pot is legal or not. Most people don't smoke pot or anything else.
Well, im in Colorado and I can tell you when we were close to legalization and after we legalized it, people cared...I dare say most people. It's not just the ones who do smoke, but also the ones who don't. To say that people who don't smoke marijuana couldn't care less one way or another is flat out wrong. They care about keeping it illegal or they care about legalizing it. Most people may not have strong feelings, but they do have an opinion.
DeleteIt doesn't have anything to do with whether we smoke it or not, it has to do with the criminalization of something that should not be illegal; it is a personal rights issue.
DeleteArresting every person caught with a small amount of pot and putting them into an already overburdened system is not working to deter pot use or sales.
Legalization and regulation will also cut down on illegal imports across state and national borders.
It's a win-win for everyone in AK, not just the smokers. Unfortunately our Legislature is made up primarily of people who seem to get all of their information about marijuana from watching "Reefer Madness" or from their church groups.
@ anon 8:01 am
DeleteHow special that you can determine for the rest of us if we give a crap about weed or not. Because I sure don't.
Calm down, 10:38. I didn't say everyone. Most doesn't mean everyone and it sounds like you are in that other category. Although it also sound like you could possibly care a little less than you do.
DeleteThe idiots are going to keep pot being handled on the black market as it's always been. This issue could be such a money maker for the State of Alaska and the Alaska Legislature has fucked the entire issue up! Now it will be 'illegal'!!!!????
DeleteDo they even know how they appear to the rest of us? Vote as many Republicans out of office in 2016 that you can. We need more liberals sitting in those Juneau seats!
What jokesters! It's way past time that they start listening to the will of the people!
Washington, D.C. voters overwhelmingly approved pot sales. Now the U.S. Congress, having nothing better to do, wants to veto this voice of the people.
ReplyDeleteThese Republicans -- they don't like Democratic Executives and they don't even like their constituents when there's a disagreement. I'd imagine this'll go to the Alaska Supreme Court, or whatever your highest court is called. It's an interesting question for many issues.
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the FINANCE Committee would be coming up with ways to regulate and tax sales of the green weed.
ReplyDeleteAlaska has a budget deficit of over 3 billion dollars, which is more than half the general fund budget. Making the green weed a crime again does nothing but cost the State more money when police must arrest and judges must lock up all the stoners.
Thats the point. Right know pot is a big money maker for the courts and dysfunctional justus system. Law makers don't like a change in there funding dollars.
ReplyDeleteThe Finance Committee, isn't that the committee which has social conservative rightwingers like Coghill & Kelly & Mc Kinnon and such? I would expect no less from that group of morons.
ReplyDeleteDon't know why Alaskans are surprised at this. It is majority Republican as to their bullshit government! And, Republicans do NOT listen to the folks that put them in office. It's occurring all over the nation. Just look at what is taking place in the United States Congress (i.e. letter to Iran written by 47 Republicans)!
ReplyDeleteVote them out in 2016! Especially that woman from Eagle River (Anna Fairclough/spelling!) that has funneled jobs to her new husband with the Alaska Legislature allowing it!
Much the same as to the Conoco employees currently serving in the Alaska Legislature. They have been allowed to vote energy issues that benefit them and their employer.
And, Alaskans don't even appear to object!
It's time to change the membership of the Alaska Legislature and get rid of as many Republicans as possible in 2016. Governor Walker and his administration need to watch them closely as they are not in his corner!
Powder Alcohol wins and get's Federal approval. Can you say HYPOCRITES...
ReplyDeleteSnort Snort
To bad our lawmakers did not make marijuana a cottage industry, instead they make marijuana felonies!
ReplyDelete