Pubdate: Tue, 16 Dec 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: Tim Hale
Note: Tim Hale grew up on Prince William Sound in Whittier and 
Valdez, and now lives in Anchorage.

IF ANCHORAGE BANS LEGAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS, CRIME WILL SURELY PAY

As a lifelong Alaskan and five year Anchoragite, I was surprised and 
dismayed to hear that the Anchorage Assembly was considering an 
ordinance prohibiting the establishment of marijuana businesses. My 
schedule prevents me from attending the public hearing scheduled for 
Dec. 16, so I felt compelled to write this commentary.

The idea of taking unilateral action in order to "wait and see" is 
logically inconsistent. There is no expiration date on the decision 
to "opt out." It would be more sensible for the Assembly to "wait" 
until the regulatory authorities were nearing completion of their 
work and then "see" if those regulations conflicted with the 
municipality's best interests.

The end result of the adoption of AO 2014-148 will be to leave the 
marijuana industry in the hands of criminals, undermining the 
foundations of the soon to be adopted statute. If the criminal black 
market cannot be curtailed, AS 17.38 will be a failure.

AO 148 makes very little economic sense as well. As with any new 
industry, this one will be accompanied by a boom. Properties will 
change hands, renovations and new construction projects will be 
started and jobs will be created.

Alaskan dollars that previously went to criminal enterprises from 
Mexico to Canada will now stay right here at home, putting food on 
the table for legitimate entrepreneurs and their employees.

Additionally, there is no prohibition on a local excise or "sin" tax 
in the statute.

Given the Municipality's budget woes, can we really afford to "opt 
out" of ANY new revenue stream?

I heard the comment that the results of the election were not 
overwhelming enough to provide a clear "mandate" in favor of allowing 
marijuana businesses in Alaska's largest city. I would like to take 
this opportunity to remind the Assembly that more votes were cast yes 
on 2 than in favor of any politician who ran. Stipulating the 
discerning minds of most Alaskan voters, and our unwillingness to toe 
a party line, I believe these results send a clear message: Alaskans 
want the marijuana industry out of the pockets of criminals and into 
the hands of licensed entrepreneurs.

No matter what the Assembly decides, people will continue to grow and 
sell pot in Anchorage. It is up to us to determine whether they will 
be tax-evading criminals or legitimate business owners.

What it boils down to is this: A yes vote on AO-148 is an explicit 
endorsement of criminal enterprise.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom