Pubdate: Mon, 16 Feb 2015
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Leon Kitgawa

LEGALIZATION A SERIOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALASKANS

Two hundred and fifty state jobs are going to be cut due to deficits 
and another 200 to 250 from the University of Alaska, all coming from 
a lack of oil revenue due to the price of oil dropping. Legislators 
do not want to discuss plugging the hole in SB 21 and are hesitant to 
increase taxes on the alcohol industry while the state is losing resources.

Meanwhile Colorado is bringing in $700 million in its first year of 
profits from the marijuana industry and some of our representatives 
want to kill our industry before it even starts, all while we have 
teens killing teens over an illegal marijuana deal. The federal 
government and the IRS are beginning steps to integrate this 
developing industry. Enough playing around with proposals and 
not-in-my-town mentality -- this is a serious opportunity for 
Alaskans to help ourselves.

Let's get marijuana out of illicit hands and into a storefront where 
responsible adults can monitor who comes and goes just like we 
already do for alcohol and tobacco. Here is an industry that may 
actually save jobs.

- -- Leon Kitgawa

Anchorage
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom