Pubdate: Sun, 24 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: Marty C. Keef
Cited: Proposition 2 http://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)

SANE VOICES BANNED SLAVERY, ENDED PROHIBITION; TIME NOW TO LEGALIZE POT

Historically, the U.S. government is on the wrong side of important
social issues. For example, slavery was legal for more than two
centuries; disenfranchisement of women was the norm until early this
past century; Prohibition was the greatest turmoil our society has
ever experienced, creating organized crime; segregation was accepted,
codified and defended. Eventually, someone took the lead in these
causes and sanity prevailed.

Isn't it time to rethink and adjust our approach to the "war on
drugs"? Someone has to take the lead. Why not Alaska? We exemplify the
spirit of independence for the entire United States because we have
the courage to try.

Annually the taxpayers spend more than $70 billion to arrest, convict
and incarcerate more than 570,000 of our neighbors. We've done this
for more than 70 years without any positive results. That is worse
than crazy; it's stupid. Families are destroyed, careers terminated
because of irrational fear. The feds' normal response to this kind of
challenge is to request another study. Every one of these studies has
shown the most harm caused by using marijuana is being caught and prosecuted.

If you feel you need a nanny to make decisions for you, vote against
Proposition 2. As an independent Alaskan, follow the Alaskan credo:
vote for privacy and independence.

Marty C. Keef

Girdwood 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake