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| Committee Takes Up Marijuana-Meth Bill |
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Posted by CN Staff on April 05, 2006 at 08:01:14 PT By Anne Sutton, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press 
Juneau, Alaska -- A drug bill that started out as a House measure to curb the manufacture of methamphetamine, then picked up new penalties for marijuana and steroids when it reached the Senate, has reawakened after a period of dormancy in the Alaska Legislature. A conference committee met Tuesday to begin ironing out differences between House and Senate versions of the bill. The committee took no action Tuesday but was expected to continue work this week. Committee Co-chairman Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, said the legislation has been sitting in the wings while committee members studied the ramifications of the federal Patriot Act on the issue. The federal legislation, which deals mainly with homeland security issues, includes provisions regarding the manufacture of methamphetamine. The federal legislation restricts the sale of over-the-counter prescription drugs such as Sudafed, a cold medicine that is also a precursor to the manufacture of methamphetamine. The federal law requires that those products be kept behind the counter, requiring purchasers to show identification and sign a logbook. The state House version of the bill, which dealt only with methamphetamine, also required logbooks but the Senate stripped it out, a move the House rejected. Coghill said he will propose an amendment that would mirror the federal language. Coghill said that he supports the Senate provisions regarding marijuana. The Senate Finance Committee rolled into the House meth bill a separate marijuana bill that added harsher penalties for possession of the drug. The bill also listed findings that could be used in an attempt to overturn the 31-year-old Supreme Court decision that allows small amounts of marijuana in Alaska homes - an amount that was later set at 4 ounces. Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, said he will propose an amendment that would make it legal to possess an ounce or less of marijuana. He said that would ease the tension between the high court precedent and state statutes that make possession of any amount illegal. Another proposed amendment would strip marijuana provisions from the bill so that they could be considered as separate legislation. Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, said he would oppose any such amendments, saying he could not support measures that would allow more impaired people in society. The bill is House Bill 149. Source: Associated Press (Wire) Related Articles: Drop The Pot Provisions In 'Methi-juana' Bill Lawmakers Seek To Test Pot Leniency in Court House Rejects Marijuana-Meth Bill Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #5 posted by mayan on April 05, 2006 at 18:08:44 PT |
| Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, said he would oppose any such amendments, saying he could not support measures that would allow more impaired people in society. So, Sen. Con Bunde, R- Anchorage, said he would oppose any freedoms guaranteed by the Alaska State Constitution? Hope you're not up for re-election! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by runderwo on April 05, 2006 at 16:02:03 PT |
| "Another proposed amendment would strip marijuana provisions from the bill so that they could be considered as separate legislation. Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, said he would oppose any such amendments, saying he could not support measures that would allow more impaired people in society." ---- This, in a state where children are huffing gas because they are so bored. "He could not support" sounds to me like he's got a moral hangup over it, no matter how much reason is thrown at him to convince him otherwise, the conclusion is foregone in his mind. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on April 05, 2006 at 15:04:42 PT:
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| How many times do the Alaskan legislators need to have their ears pinned back and slapped upside the head before they understand what any dog in need of training would pick up in a heartbeat: No means NO! As in "No, you may not override the will of the people!". I sincerely hope that Alaskan tokers don't let this latest encroachment upon their liberties slide. In an election year, no less. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by whig on April 05, 2006 at 08:24:41 PT |
| Perhaps he should ask Santa's opinion. http://www.lawrence.com/news/2004/dec/13/cannabisclaus/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 05, 2006 at 08:06:21 PT |
| Showtime Promotional Material Confiscated by French By Adam Finley April 5th 2006 If you're trying to promote a popular television series about marijuana called Weeds, it's highly likely your promotional clothing will probably have a pot leaf or two on it. I think a picture of a man eating Cheetos and laughing at his shoe would be more realistic, but whatever works. Anyway, the producers of the aforementioned series ran into some trouble in Cannes recently when several promotional shirts and caps with pot leaves on them were confiscated by French officials who claim the garments encouraged drug use. They've asked Lionsgate, who produces the series, to provide a script, a copy of an episode, and a letter stating the clothes do not encourage drug use. Showtime will then be sent to bed without supper to think about what it's done. http://www.adjab.com/2006/04/05/showtime-promotional-material-confiscated-by-french/ [ Post Comment ] |
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