cannabisnews.com: Alaska Primed To Become Third State To Legalize



cannabisnews.com: Alaska Primed To Become Third State To Legalize
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Alaska Primed To Become Third State To Legalize
Posted by CN Staff on February 07, 2014 at 08:14:50 PT
By Valerie Richardson, The Washington Times
Source: Washington Times
Alaska is poised to become the third state to legalize retail marijuana after pro-pot advocates this week cleared the signature hurdle to place an initiative on the August ballot.The Committee to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska hit 31,593 valid signatures Tuesday, well above the 30,169 signatures required to place the measure before voters. The initiative is expected to appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot once a final count is certified by the state.
Alaska follows in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington, where voters approved measures to regulate the sale of recreational marijuana for adults in November 2012. Colorado unveiled the nation’s first retail pot shops in Jan. 1, and Washington is expected to begin marijuana sales in June.Dependably Republican Alaska would become the reddest state to approve retail marijuana, but Committee spokesman Taylor Bickford predicted the legalization effort would appeal to the electorate’s libertarian streak.“Alaska voters have a large degree of respect for personal liberty and freedom, and that’s reflected in the poll numbers we’ve been seeing,” said Mr. Bickford.A newly released survey shows the idea already has significant public support. A Public Policy Polling survey posted Wednesday found 55 percent of registered voters polled agree with legalizing pot for recreational purposes, with 39 percent opposed.Opposing the measure is Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a year-old group founded by former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, Rhode Island Democrat, that favors decriminalization for pot smokers but not legalization.“We’ve been approached by Alaskan treatment and prevention providers to offer advice,” said SAM co-founder Kevin Sabet.So far Alaska’s leading elected officials haven’t said much about the issue, although the Marijuana Policy Project is lobbying for the support for Rep. Don Young, Alaska Republican, who backed a House bill last year to protect marijuana businesses from federal prosecution as long as they comply with state law.“It’s a states’ rights issue, period,” Mr. Young told the Alaska Dispatch.The marijuana measure would appear on the primary ballot alongside a number of other high-profile contests. Republicans are waging a contested Senate primary to decide who will face vulnerable Democratic Sen. Mark Begich in November.The ballot is also expected to include initiatives on repealing a tax cut for oil companies and boosting the minimum wage, which could increase voter turnout.The Alaska initiative hews closely to the language in the Colorado and Washington measures, which legalize small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and over. The sale and cultivation would be regulated by the state in a manner similar to that of liquor.The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board would have regulatory oversight over recreational marijuana, but the state legislature would have the option of establishing and shifting authority to a Marijuana Control Board.The measure also calls for a $50 per ounce excise tax for sales or transfers of marijuana from a cultivation facility or a store. Local governments could opt out by banning retail sales in their jurisdictions, although marijuana use and possession would still be legal.The campaign doesn’t have an estimate yet on how much revenue would be generated under the initiative, but “what we do know is that a lot of jobs are going to be created, there will be a significant economic boost, and the state will have a new source of tax revenue,” said Mr. Bickford.The biggest losers would be those now profiting from marijuana sales, he said, namely dope dealers and criminal syndicates.“We expect to put a lot of drug dealers out of business by selling marijuana over the counter in a regulated market instead of on the black market,” said Mr. Bickford.Source: Washington Times (DC)Author: Valerie Richardson, The Washington TimesPublished: February 6, 2014Copyright: 2014 The Washington Times, LLC Website: http://www.washtimes.com/Contact: letters washingtontimes.com URL: http://drugsense.org/url/D9pVf1qDCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on February 08, 2014 at 15:40:42 PT
Garry
don't forget Chris Bennet's excellent work:http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1301.html
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Comment #11 posted by Garry Minor on February 08, 2014 at 11:30:34 PT:
Let's not forget!
The biblical roots of Jews and marijuanaJewish World FeaturesIsrael News - Haaretz Israeli News sourceDoctor, mohel, and former IDF lieutenant Yosef Glassman finds surprising links between controversial plant and ancient Judaism.http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/1.562450?v=A44710E3CABB5183B61385097AA3C713 “There is no question that the plant has a holy source, God himself, and is thus mentioned for several ritualistic purposes,” said Glassman, ...  Marijuana usage, he contends, is an aspect of Jewish law and tradition that had long been buried, and one that deserves “resurfacing and exploration.” ......“Science aside, the greatest of medications allow the Infinite to penetrate the inner workings of the body and soul,” he explained. “This is likely the overriding benefit that cannabis provides, and probably why it has so many different healing properties.”That's what Christ and the early Christians knew too!The Chrism is superior to baptism for it is from the Chrism that we have been called Christians, certainly not from the word baptism.Too bad the so called "Christian" churches of the world don't know their history, either! 
Not yet anyway!
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Comment #10 posted by Universer on February 08, 2014 at 10:27:02 PT
OT: Keep Petitioning!
Disappointingly, this petition has slowed to a crawl just 4,000 short of 100,000. Please sign and share!http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-if-marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-remove-it-from-the-dea-s-schedule-of-drugs
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Comment #9 posted by Oleg the Tumor on February 08, 2014 at 08:38:52 PT:
Redefining Things
"The biggest losers would be those now profiting from marijuana sales, he said, namely dope dealers and criminal syndicates."At every opportunity, we see the gist of phrases used to refer to something else entirely.What is dope? (Besides being "a person who cannot reason and care at the same time.")In this usage, "dope" refers to the presence of an unspecified impurity in something that is otherwise "good". Which begs the question, "Was anything added to this plant?" But they are referring to the plant itself, of course.The same chemical industry that gave us Xylon-B also gave us airplane glue, or "dope", which when sniffed, gave the user a chemical "high", a near-death experience or the real thing.The igs (handy shorthand for "ignoid") always seem to manage mentioning cannabis in the same context as "illegal drugs" or "dope" or worse.As far as the "criminal syndicates" are concerned, does this mean that the price won't change, just the victimizer?  
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Comment #8 posted by Sam Adams on February 07, 2014 at 14:40:33 PT
Beatles
and coming out of the 1950's, we needed all the help we could get!I think the Europeans will eventually have to rescue us again - culturally and this time financially as well! Either them or the Canadians will eventually have to bail our asses out!
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 07, 2014 at 11:09:26 PT
The GCW
Good one!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 07, 2014 at 11:08:23 PT
runruff
Long live The Memory of The Beatles!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Universer on February 07, 2014 at 10:51:50 PT
Full Quote
“We’ve been approached by Alaskan treatment and prevention providers to offer advice [on how to preserve their income stream],” said SAM co-founder Kevin Sabet.
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on February 07, 2014 at 10:41:51 PT
speaking of losersÉ..
this is a great article…better update your resumes guys!http://www.unz.com/article/war-on-drugs-ends-with-a-fizzle/War on Drugs Ends with a Fizzle
DEA Agents Fear the Dole>>>ÒIt scares us,Ó James L. Capra, head of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operations, told congress on Jan. 15, when asked about the new marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington state.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on February 07, 2014 at 09:33:23 PT
Losers:
"The biggest losers would be those now profiting from marijuana sales, he said, namely dope dealers and criminal syndicates."Losers would also include those profiting from cannabis prohibition. GUESS WHO?
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on February 07, 2014 at 09:06:51 PT
It was 50 years ago today...
That Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play!50 years ago today the Fab four came to America!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on February 07, 2014 at 08:33:27 PT
Yeah Baby!
Let's roll!
HempWorld
[ Post Comment ]


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