Pubdate: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Copyright: 2004 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18 Author: Josh Webster Cited: Yes on 2 ( www.yeson2alaska.com ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) A YES VOTE ON PROPOSITION 2 IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT WASTE, NOT DRUG USE After reading so many negative letters about Proposition 2, I thought it wise to clear a few things up so everyone is not blinded by the smoke. This is not a national effort to legalize marijuana; it is an Alaskan effort. What Proposition 2 states is that the current laws in place are a waste of time and money. Kids today have far greater access to marijuana than they would if it were legal. By making it legal you take away the money from those who benefit from the current laws, i.e., dealers, cartels and growers of marijuana. It also opens up the door to make more money by taxing marijuana itself for sale and distribution. Since this state is in the habit of taxing the snot out of other people's vices, such as alcohol and tobacco, one would assume that this wouldn't be an issue for marijuana. Make no mistake, I do not condone or advocate the use of any drug, including marijuana. Please do not confuse being against current marijuana laws with being pro-marijuana. It is simply not the same. I am against wasting time and money on something that has failed to stop marijuana use. A yes vote on Proposition 2 is not just about smoking marijuana. It's about ending government waste and bringing in responsible lawmaking. Josh Webster Anchorage - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake