cannabisnews.com: Governor Wrong on Marijuana





Governor Wrong on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on February 19, 2005 at 07:52:12 PT
By Dirk Nelson
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Gov. Frank Murkowski recognizes the potential advantages of distortions: Harsh truths can kill a respectable political legacy. In his recent State of the State address, Murkowski attributed Alaska's fiscal health to "sound and responsible fiscal management, with a little help from oil." Giggling could be heard throughout the Arctic when he uttered that revisionist statement. The fact is that between Murkowski's offering of "incentives" to oil corporations that are already enjoying sweetheart deals on revenues and the governor's liberal spending habits, if it weren't for the high price of oil, Alaska would be flat broke.
Then, in a recent Associated Press article concerning Murkowski's attempts to defy the Alaska Supreme Court in his attacks on Alaskans' rights to privacy, Murkowski again used distortion to mask his failed attempts to subvert the Ravin decision's protections for possession of marijuana by adults in their homes. The governor claims in the article that the opponents of marijuana decriminalization have never had their side of the debate heard. He further states that he is only doing what the voters want him to do, based upon Measure 2's failure in the most recent statewide election. Both claims are false. Measure 2 on the November 2004 ballot would have legalized open sales of cannabis for anyone over 21 years of age and would have permitted possession outside of one's home. The Ravin decision of 1975, as codified by the Legislature in 1983, permitted possession of 4 ounces of cannabis but only in the homes of adults over the age of 19, with no sales or gifting permitted. Alaskans rejected Measure 2 but weren't asked about the Ravin decision's stance on privacy for adults in their own homes. The two are distinctly different, though Mr. Murkowski is apparently unable to perceive the dissimilarities. In addition to his apparent comprehension deficiencies, his claim that opponents of decriminalization have never had their side of the argument heard is false.During Ravin's 1975 trial, both sides were afforded the opportunity to have their best arguments and expert witnesses heard. Both sides engaged in that debate, and Ravin emerged victorious. In 1987 and 1988, the Alaska Legislature held hearings on the "dangers" of cannabis use and concluded those sessions without passing a law forbidding cannabis possession and use by adults in their homes.But of especially peculiar interest is Mr. Murkowski's claim that in the recent case of North Pole resident David Noy, the courts refused to hear arguments about the harms of marijuana. The courts, in fact, clearly invited such arguments in the future. Under standard protocol, any challenges of fact would have needed to be entered into during the trial. Any C-grade attorney knows that one cannot typically change points of argument on appeal. Nonetheless, the esteemed legal staff at the Department of Law attempted to do just that. And the court properly told them that they could not. The Alaska Supreme Court has clearly told Gov. Murkowski that there are two avenues to changing a constitutionally protected right such as Ravin: They can either sponsor a constitutional amendment or they can properly put forth a case to the Alaska Supreme Court proving that the facts are different than originally thought to be. The state has had both of these legal remedies at its disposal for the 30 years since the Ravin decision became law. But instead of following the legal parameters defined by the court, the state has repeatedly attempted to violate state law, ironically while complaining about lawlessness. Perhaps Mr. Murkowski fears that he cannot win an honest debate in the courts concerning the alleged dangers of cannabis.Numerous governments have recently held lengthy committee hearings and researched volumes of evidence concerning the allegations of the harmful effects of marijuana use. The results included the United Kingdom's downgrading of marijuana use to a ticketable offense and a Canadian senate committee advising open, taxed, regulated sales for persons over the age of 16. In the process, they debunked the mythical "gateway drug theory" various potency myths and other falsehoods routinely perpetuated by prohibitionists looking to fuel their $58 billion-a-year war on privacy that's now responsible for America incarcerating more persons per capita than any other country in the world. If Mr. Murkowski succeeds in his planned violation of state law, he'll cost Alaskans over $260 million in revenues, put our children's futures at risk and set another example of the government not following its own law, while failing miserably at decreasing any marijuana use in Alaska.Dirk Nelson is a former licensed clinical social worker who has lived in Alaska 27 years. He resides near Ester. Newshawk: Jose Melendez Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)Author: Dirk NelsonPublished: Saturday, February 19, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.Contact: letters newsminer.comWebsite: http://www.news-miner.com/ Related Articles:Pot Measure Would Test Court Rulingshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20198.shtmlGovernor Moves To Change Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20151.shtmlDA Asks Judge To Look at Issue of Possessionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20038.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 17, 2005 at 09:03:11 PT
afterburner
Thank you for this article about Alaska. I am very upset about it. Nothing is sacred to Bush or his administration. Neil said:Save the planet for another day  Attention shoppers.  Buy with a conscience and save.Save the planet for another day  Save Alaska!  Let the caribou stay.Don't care what the governments say  They're all bought  and paid for anyway.Save the planet for another day  Hey Big Oil!  What do you say?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by afterburner on March 17, 2005 at 08:41:32 PT
OT: Bush closes in on Alaskan oil
Mar. 17, 2005. 06:15 AM 
 
Toronto Star 
 
[ PHOTO: 
http://www.thestar.com/images/thestar/img/050317_polar_bears_250.jpg 
AP 
Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where the U.S. wants to drill for oil, is home to polar bears. ]
 
Bush closes in on Alaskan oil
U.S. Senate approves drilling in wildlife refuge
Martin urged to voice concern for caribou migrationTIM HARPER
WASHINGTON BUREAU{U.S. President George W. Bush has taken a major step toward drilling for oil in a pristine Alaskan wildlife refuge, ignoring objections from Ottawa and environmentalists on both sides of the border.{While the Paul Martin government has largely watched in silence, Bush rode a perfect convergence of factors to win U.S. Senate approval for drilling by the narrowest of margins.{The issue has pitted environmentalists against the oil and gas industry for 20 years, and yesterday's 51-49 Senate vote brings the day of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge closer than in two decades.{Bush and supporters see the oil beneath the wildlife refuge, known as ANWR, as a strategic asset that could lessen U.S. dependence on foreign sources of petroleum.{While there are more legislative hurdles to pass before drilling approval becomes law, Ottawa has the right to express its concern under a 1987 agreement in which both governments pledged to take no action that might harm the migrating grounds of some 120,000 caribou of the Porcupine herd, which migrates annually from the Northwest Territories to the Yukon and into Alaska.{Ottawa argues grazing grounds would be harmed, eventually reducing the caribou population.{Within Alaska, the wildlife refuge is home to 45 types of land and marine mammals, including bowhead whales, polar and grizzly bears and moose, along with some 180 species of birds.{The move by the U.S. Senate will renew pressure on Martin to let Bush know of Ottawa's concern for the future of the migrating caribou. He'll have an opportunity to do that when he meets with Bush in Texas next week.{Martin's office has indicated only that the issue is not on an official agenda.{Tamara Stark of Greenpeace Canada said yesterday it was time for Martin to publicly speak out on a crucial environmental issue.{"We hope Prime Minister Martin speaks out very quickly in whatever he considers the appropriate forum so our concerns are clearly known," she said. "This is one of the last pristine grazing grounds left and it should not be endangered by irresponsible drilling. It is foolhardy and risks could be taken that are totally unnecessary."{Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians says Martin will find himself powerless if he raises the issue.{"We never bring out the big ammunition," she said. "Bush is deeply unhappy about Iraq and missile defence, and Martin will want to let sleeping dogs lie.{"But this is going to be a huge bilateral issue and you can't just let those dogs lie."{The Canadian Embassy in Washington had lobbied hard on Capitol Hill and let its views be known to legislators, an official said. It registered its opposition in a statement yesterday.{"Drilling in the Arctic Refuge would have a devastating impact both on the Porcupine caribou and on the Gwich'in First Nations people of the Yukon and Northwest Territories who depend on the herd for their sustenance, culture and way of life," the embassy said.{"Canada remains committed to protecting the Porcupine caribou herd and urges the United States to provide permanent wilderness protection to the calving grounds of the ... herd."{Bernard Etzinger, a spokesperson for the embassy, said Canada will continue to work with allies on Capitol Hill and remind them the Senate vote was just one of a series before drilling is okayed.{"We will continue to urge the U.S. not to drill there and continue to remind the U.S. of its obligations under the treaty," Etzinger said.{But Bush is more concerned with soaring gas prices as freewheeling Americans get ready for summer travel amid news the price of imported oil hit $56 (U.S.) per barrel yesterday.{The average gas price at American pumps hit $2.05 a gallon.{"I'm concerned about what it means to the average American family," Bush said before the vote. He also worries about the effect of rising energy prices on U.S. small business, he said, and is concerned about increasing foreign demand for petroleum from countries such as China.{"I have been worried about this since 2001, when I first showed up in Washington, D.C.," Bush said.{"I hope Congress passes ANWR. There's a way to get some additional reserves here at home on the books," he said.{Critics say there's not enough oil in the reserves to justify the potential environmental damage. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated in 1998 the coastal plain could have between 5.6 billion and 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil; Canada's Athabasca oil sands are said to contain close to 180 billion barrels.}How did your US Senators vote?: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00052 
Call, write, email and let them know if you support this drilling proposal ["nay" vote on yesterday's amendment to block] or if you oppose this drilling proposal ["yea" vote on yesterday's amendment to block]. I sent two emails of thanks for "yea" votes yesterday. The amendment lost 49 yeas - 51 nays!
How did your US Senators vote?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on February 20, 2005 at 13:56:39 PT:
WHY NOT SWITCH TO BIOMASS FOR ENERGY?
www.HempCar.org
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by mayan on February 20, 2005 at 12:15:22 PT
"W"eed?
I just walked in the door and the news is talking about Bush smoking the bush! Everyone knows he enjoyed(enjoys?) a little toot from time to time, so this is like, duh. Oh, I get it. That darned "gateway" thingy!Maybe this is just to distract us? Nevertheless, the fact that people with slightly lesser connections are being caged for the same thing that the "leader" of the "free" world did is just a tad hypocritical.FREE THE WEED!!!Speaking of the chimp...Hollywood Vandals Brand Bush a Nazi:
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=6659Bush IS a Nazi! His grandfather certainly supported them. Just do a search on Prescott Bush/Nazis if you don't believe.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 20, 2005 at 09:20:34 PT
Here's The NYT Article
I thought and thought about this article and if I should post it. I'm still not sure but I went ahead and archived it just to have it. Here it is.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20265.shtml
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 20, 2005 at 08:39:32 PT
Fox News
We turned on Fox to see what they said about the tapes. They made Bush out to be a straight shooter and he kept his past quiet because he doesn't want to trip up kids. That's not word for word but that's how I thought Fox would spin it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by FoM on February 20, 2005 at 07:34:55 PT
Just a Note
They mentioned Bush's marijuana use on MSNBC a few minutes ago. I'm looking for an article that says more about marijuana but so far an article hasn't showed up. I really hope good writers will take this information and make points about how unfair it is.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by potpal on February 20, 2005 at 04:36:41 PT
Scary thing...
>He also praises John Ashcroft as a promising candidate for Supreme Court justice...Will the eagle fly again? Heaven help us.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by JoeCitizen on February 19, 2005 at 20:03:13 PT
Bigot or Hypocrite, which is worse?
I thought Bush was a bigot, but it turns out he's just a hypocrite. Neither is a good thing to be, but I think hypocrite is worse. A bigot may genuinely believe in his/her hateful, misguided ideas. A hypocrite doesn't genuinely believe in anything but telling you to do A while they secretly do B themselves. An opportunistic hypocrite like Bush is the worst of all. They don't believe in a damn thing but will say or do whatever benefits them at the moment.As when (then Governor) George W. Bush said in 2000 of medical marijuana "I believe each state can choose that decision as they so choose." Lying, opportunistic hypocrite. And a redundant one at that.JC 
George's statement on MMJ
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 19, 2005 at 19:43:52 PT
BGreen
You know something? How can I put this so it's understood. I'll try. People should be able to go thru life and decide how life works for themselves. Some people search one way and others differently. Life is a journey. Bush doesn't seem to understand that people will smoke marijuana and all they want is to be left alone like he was. He wants to bury his head in the sand and that makes it ok it seems.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by BGreen on February 19, 2005 at 19:24:29 PT
Bush Won't Kick Gays - Yeah, right!
But Bush the lying hypocrite will kick the s#!t out of the cannabis "sinners."The Reverend Bud Green
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 19, 2005 at 19:06:34 PT
AP Article
Paper: Bush Tapes Show Early StrategiesPosted on Sat, Feb. 19, 2005 
 
 
 NEW YORK - Private conversations with George Bush secretly taped by an old friend before he was elected president foreshadow some of his political strategies and appear to reveal that he acknowledged using marijuana, The New York Times reported Saturday.The conversations were recorded by Doug Wead, a former aide to George W. Bush's father, beginning in 1998, when Bush was weighing a presidential bid, until just before the Republican National Convention in 2000, the Times said in a story posted on its Web site.The tapes show Bush crafting a strategy for navigating the tricky political waters between Christian conservative and secular voters, repeatedly worrying that evangelicals would be angered by a refusal to bash gays and that secular Americans would be turned off by meetings with evangelical leaders.On one tape, Bush explains that he told one prominent evangelical that he would not "kick gays, because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin?"In early tapes, Bush dismisses the strength of John McCain for the nomination and expresses concern about rival Steve Forbes. He also praises John Ashcroft as a promising candidate for Supreme Court justice, attorney general or vice president.Bush also criticizes then-Vice President Al Gore for admitting marijuana use and explains why he would not do the same."I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions," he said, according to the Times. "You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."According to the article, Wead played 12 of the tapes to a Times reporter. He said he recorded them because he viewed Bush as a historic figure. He is the author of a new book on presidential childhoods.The White House did not deny the authenticity of the tapes."The governor was having casual conversations with someone he believed was his friend," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said, referring to Bush.
 
Copyright: 2005 Associated Presshttp://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10945053.htm?1c
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 19, 2005 at 17:30:39 PT
Hope and Jose
I read the articles and I wonder why I'm not shocked. I hope some good will come out of it for us.***He refused to answer reporters' questions about his past behavior, he said, even though it might cost him the election. Defending his approach, Mr. Bush said: "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."He mocked Vice President Al Gore for acknowledging marijuana use. "Baby boomers have got to grow up and say, yeah, I may have done drugs, but instead of admitting it, say to kids, don't do them," he said. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by jose melendez on February 19, 2005 at 17:04:46 PT
Wead outs Bush claiming weed use
from: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/politics/20talk.htmlMember ID: cannabisnewsPassword: password The White House did not dispute the authenticity of the tapes or respond to their contents. Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, said, "The governor was having casual conversations with someone he believed was his friend." Asked about drug use, Mr. Duffy said, "That has been asked and answered so many times there is nothing more to add."The conversations Mr. Wead played offer insights into Mr. Bush's thinking from the time he was weighing a run for president in 1998 to shortly before he accepted the Republican nomination in 2000. Mr. Wead had been a liaison to evangelical Protestants for the president's father, and the intersection of religion and politics is a recurring theme in the talks.Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead: "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."But Mr. Bush also repeatedly worried that prominent evangelical Christians would not like his refusal "to kick gays." At the same time, he was wary of unnerving secular voters by meeting publicly with evangelical leaders. When he thought his aides had agreed to such a meeting, Mr. Bush complained to Karl Rove, his political strategist, "What the hell is this about?"Mr. Bush, who has acknowledged a drinking problem years ago, told Mr. Wead on the tapes that he could withstand scrutiny of his past. He said it involved nothing more than "just, you know, wild behavior." He worried, though, that allegations of cocaine use would surface in the campaign, and he blamed his opponents for stirring rumors. "If nobody shows up, there's no story," he told Mr. Wead, "and if somebody shows up, it is going to be made up." But when Mr. Wead said that Mr. Bush had in the past publicly denied using cocaine, Mr. Bush replied, "I haven't denied anything."He refused to answer reporters' questions about his past behavior, he said, even though it might cost him the election. Defending his approach, Mr. Bush said: "I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."He mocked Vice President Al Gore for acknowledging marijuana use. "Baby boomers have got to grow up and say, yeah, I may have done drugs, but instead of admitting it, say to kids, don't do them," he said.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on February 19, 2005 at 16:56:39 PT
This should be in the NYT tomorrow
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42946
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2005 at 16:20:54 PT
More disease and stinking rot
Former UNCW student with criminal record wants school to lift banThe Associated Press
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- A UNC-Wilmington junior was banned from campus as a potential safety risk after campus administrators learned he didn't disclose his entire criminal record on a 2003 application form.Psychology major Robert Helm Jr., 41, said he has given up hope of returning to classes at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington this semester. He was banned from campus Feb. 1, but hopes to be reinstated and earn his degree at UNC-W.Campus safety has been an issue at UNC-W since last spring, when two female students were killed by male students who hadn't fully disclosed troubled pasts. Both men later killed themselves.The president of the 16-campus state university system convened a task force to study student safety and concluded that most students never would be touched by violence. But the group also recommended better background checks for incoming students.Helm disclosed an April 2003 misdemeanor conviction for possession of a marijuana pipe on a short re-enrollment form he submitted to the university before resuming studies there after a 20-year absence. It was the same information required on a form Helm filled out to receive federal student aid.His history of criminal convictions also include violation of a domestic violence protective order and writing worthless checks. He also was jailed for about one month last year after failing to complete probation imposed after conviction for speeding to elude arrest."I wasn't trying to hide anything," Helm said.UNC-W officials determined otherwise."A review of your criminal history reveals a disturbing and extensive history of criminal conduct," Terrence D. Curran, UNC-W associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, wrote in a letter to Helm.A university spokeswoman declined further comment.Helm lost all his possessions Jan. 21 in a fire that destroyed his Wilmington apartment. College officials were informed of his plight and offered free lodging on campus so he could continue his studies.It was during his on-campus stay that a background check was apparently performed.Helm said he has been drug-free for about a year, although he drinks occasionally. He hopes to become a substance abuse counselor and work with young people.He said he is hoping UNC-W officials reconsider the case at an upcoming hearing. He submitted an appeal request this week and awaits word on the hearing date."It's going to be in front of a board. They said it might not be a quick process," he said.Information from: The Star-News, 
-----------------
"A review of your criminal history reveals a disturbing and extensive history of criminal conduct," Terrence D. Curran, UNC-W associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, wrote in a letter to Helm."--This article is just filled with contradictions, starting with Mr. Terrence Curran's extreme efforts to root out "criminals" and this Robert Helm Jr., 41, who is planning to suck up to the drug warrior establishment.We have only ourselves to blame, for we were not watching this insanity build.gw
student with criminal record wants school to lift ban
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by mayan on February 19, 2005 at 14:44:51 PT
Big Oil's Puppet
In his recent State of the State address, Murkowski attributed Alaska's fiscal health to "sound and responsible fiscal management, with a little help from oil." Giggling could be heard throughout the Arctic when he uttered that revisionist statement.It's no secret that Murkowski has long been an oil industry puppet. It's not surprising that he opposes the plant that can do everything petrochemicals can do. Great article! Lepp's gonna' fight it... Marijuana grower pleads not guilty to federal drug charges:
http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127~2896~2721255,00.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 19, 2005 at 14:05:51 PT
Telarus 
I thought maybe this link might help.Justices Uphold Right To Use Pot: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/uphold.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by telarus on February 19, 2005 at 13:47:59 PT:
Wow
That was one of the best stories I've read this week, thanks.
Now, I'm wondering what the court referenced in Ravin 1975, and why the Alaskans have this right and we do not????
I thought that Article 14 end of section1 states: "__No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States__; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; __nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws__."
emphesis mine
Has this whole prohibition been a sematic trick?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 19, 2005 at 10:14:07 PT
What An Article
Thank you Dirk Nelson!
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment