Pubdate: Tue, 14 Oct 2014
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2014 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Richard Pomeroy

STATE, REVEAL COSTS OF PROHIBITING POT

I have received the state of Alaska official election pamphlet and 
like many others was disappointed with the bias shown on Ballot 
Measure 2. If the state is going to estimate the cost on how much to 
regulate marijuana, it should have published the $11 million a year 
it costs the public to maintain prohibition. On April 13, the Alaska 
Dispatch News released an article titled "Notable moments in 40 years 
of Alaska's history with marijuana." The article reported that the 
ACLU estimates it costs taxpayers $11 million a year to enforce 
marijuana prohibition. Every 4.32 hours an Alaskan is arrested for 
possessing marijuana. The No campaign claims the business community 
supports their cause, and therefore, they shouldn't mind picking up 
the tab as state revenues continue to decline.

Will someone please point out Deborah Williams' professional career 
with the federal government? UAA failed to do so in its biography for 
the Oct. 23 marijuana debate. This is relevant because as a former 
federal employee, she has a vested interest in maintaining government 
prohibition, because once a fed always a fed.

- - Richard Pomeroy

Anchorage
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom