PALMER - Residents and local government officials appear cautiously optimistic about the future of marijuana in the Mat-Su Valley, based on discussion at Thursday's meeting. Some of the commentary heard during Thursday's informal mayoral forum - - which involved mayors of Wasilla, Palmer, Houston, and the Mat-Su Borough - focused on specific policy recommendations, like the suggestion that a limited number of licenses be offered, and be initially awarded via lottery. Other recommendations, like a speaker who urged officials to adopt specific regulations only as specific problems arose, were more general. [continues 791 words]
MAT-SU - Lately, when grand juries hand up indictments for drug charges, meth-lab cooks are conspicuously absent, and the drugs of choice now seem to be heroin, cocaine and pills. In October, Michael Pope was indicted for possession of cocaine, heroin and a firearm near Wasilla. In November, Tom Hess and Kim Hutchings were indicted for possession of heroin, cocaine, methadone and a prescription anti-anxiety medication in Palmer. In December, Michael Whiting was indicted for possession of cocaine, oxycodone and hydrocodone. [continues 578 words]
Much has been written and discussed in recent years about the problems of methamphetamine addiction and the cottage industry of production that goes along with it. We who live in the Valley, the meth capital of Alaska, are, perhaps, more aware than most of the devastation wrought by the epidemic. What may not be fully understood yet, though, is how thorough and far-reaching that devastation can be. This is no personal drug that affects only users. The fallout from the use and production of meth endangers many and exacts a toll on taxpayer-funded community resources, such as family services, public health, law enforcement and emergency services. [continues 446 words]
State Averaging 40 Reports A Month Mat-Su - The recent busts of three meth labs in the Butte removed two toddlers and a 6-year-old from harm's way. But those children aren't the only ones in danger in the Valley. From July 2004 through June 2005, the state Office of Children's Services received an average of 40 protective-service reports a month that were connected to methamphetamine in some way, according to James Steele, manager for the Southcentral region. Some reports were about children whose parents who were using the drug, some had parents who were manufacturing it, Steele said. [continues 797 words]
MAT-SU - The escalation of methamphetamine production throughout the Valley has become such a serious problem that the Mat-Su Drug Enforcement Team has made busting clandestine labs its number-one priority. The problem has become so bad, according to U.S. Attorney Timothy Burgess, that police agencies in the Valley have uncovered more methamphetamine labs this year than they found during all of 2004. In an attempt to address the growing problem, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly is asking voters to go to the polls Tuesday and pass Proposition No. 6, which would grant to the borough limited health and social service powers. [continues 583 words]
I have waited a bit to chime in on a few subjects at once to save space and my time. First, I would like to become a member of the Common Sense party, if it ever gets started. This party would look over what has been happening in our political system and decide that no matter what, it will take the most common-sense approach to decisions that affect Alaska's citizens, regardless of the backlash. For our first example, let's look at a recent bill that was introduced that said the state needed to tap into the PFD monies, only by a little, of course, to give our towns the money that was cut from their budgets a few years ago. [continues 504 words]
As a drug-abuse researcher and a mom, I support Ballot Measure 2 -- to protect families from the destructive consequences of current marijuana laws, to create better ways of keeping marijuana out of the hands of kids, to make marijuana available for medicinal use and because of a moral obligation to protect our right to privacy. As a mother, I want my child to know the difference between marijuana and hard drugs, and I believe Measure 2 makes this distinction. As an Alaskan, I want to feel safe in the privacy of my own home as guaranteed by our state constitution. Measure 2 reaffirms this right and will stop police raids on family homes. [continues 587 words]
If you're looking for work in Alaska, don't be surprised to hear these words: "If you smoke pot, you can't work here." The folks who might say those words -- human resource managers -- screen and hire new employees for Alaska businesses, industries, government agencies and nonprofits. Most of them want nothing to do with you if you use marijuana and other illegal drugs. Pot smokers and dopers can forget about another long list: The jobs and professional careers in Alaska that automatically reject applicants who test positive for illicit drugs. A small sample of those careers includes barge and ferry boat captains, commercial airline and bush pilots, police, troopers and security personnel, heavy-equipment operators and mine workers. And the list goes on. [continues 347 words]
Mat-Su -- Next week at the polls, voters could make Alaska the first state in the country to completely decriminalize marijuana, setting a precedent for other states and emboldening prohibition opponents nationwide. Passage of Ballot Measure 2 -- the third ballot initiative since 1998 to deal with the decriminalization of marijuana -- would remove all civil and criminal penalties under state law for Alaskans over age 21 who possess, use, sell or give away marijuana. The initiative would also enable state lawmakers to tax and regulate the plant as they do with alcohol and tobacco. [continues 725 words]
MAT-SU -- Yes on 2, a group supporting the marijuana decriminalization initiative on November's ballot, filed a lawsuit Tuesday morning against the state of Alaska and lieutenant governor Loren Leman for drafting the official election pamphlet's statement in opposition of Ballot Measure 2. The official complaint, signed by ballot sponsors Tim Hinterberger, David Finkelstein and Bill Parker, states that the lieutenant governor's role in drafting the statement of opposition, "is a violation of the applicable statutes of the State of Alaska and of the duty of that office to act neutrally and impartially with respect to the conduct of elections." [continues 566 words]
The deputy drug czar was in Alaska last week speaking out against the evils of Proposition 2, the most recent attempt to legalize marijuana in Alaska. Many of us were shocked to discover the deputy drug czar had such strong feelings about pot. I remember saying, "Boy, that deputy drug czar really doesn't like drugs, does he?" I should also make one quick aside to announce that from this day forward I wish to be identified as Valley News Czar. I prefer the C-Z-A-R spelling to the T-Z-A-R or T-S-A-R versions, but any will work in a pinch. [continues 605 words]
