Alaska's pot law has caused problems, officials say
By Gary Henley
Of tfc* Komrild
Officials in Alaska say its law
permitting adults to possess
small amounts of marijuana for
use on private property has add
ed to that state’s drug problem,
Oregonians will decide Ballot
Measure 5 on Tuesday, which
would allow adults to cultivate
marijuana for personal use.
Alaska's Supreme Court
decided that individuals' right
to privacy exceeds the state's in
terest in prosecuting possession
r
of small amounts of marijuana
in Ravin vs. State in 1975.
The court determined that ac
cording to Alaska's constitu
tion. privacy in the home is a
fundamental right
In addition, the court deter
mined that the right to privacy
in the home must yield only
"when it interferes in a serious
manner with the health, safety,
rights and privileges of others
or with the public welfare."
in 1982. the Alaska
Legislature followed up on the
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court’s decision and defined a
“small amount" of marijuana as
four ounces or less. "Personal
use” was defined as occurring
on private property only. Intent
to sell, sale to a minor and pur
chase of any amount are still
prohibited. Possession of any
amount is currently considered
illegal under federal law.
The Oregon measure does not
define the maximum amount a
person can possess and does not
say where marijuana can be
used.
Herb Soli, director of criminal
prosecution in Alaska, said
there is a misunderstanding of
Alaska's statute, both in Alaska
and Oregon.
“The first thing that we'd
want to reiterate is that mari
juana is not legal here." he said.
"It may give the customer a lit
tle more security, but the law
doesn't really give them any
more of a break,” he said.
“If anything more comes for
ward. we're going to have to
come out with a statement
against it," Soli said.
The Oregon initiative has too
many loopholes. Soil said.
While Soil doesn't like Alaska's
court and legislative decisions,
“at least it's specific.” he said.
Soli isn't aware of any studies
showing increased use of mari
juana or increased criminal ac
tivity as a result of the current
law. and his department hasn’t
been able to conduct its own, he
said "What resources we have
are so involved in stopping co
caine and heroin.” he added.
However. Soli believes activi
ty has increased "We've cer
tainly had our share of people
coming up here. For the most
part it's publicity,” he said.
“While there may l>e some
mature adults who can deal
with these things, there’s cer
tainly a problem with motive
tion in children,” Soli said.
Despite continued complaints
from police and others, recent
efforts to recriminalize mari
juana in Alaska have gathered
little attention, said Alaska state
Sen. jan Kaiks
But she still thinks the majori
ty of Alaskans support
recriminalization of marijuana,
she said.
"There's no way to enforce it.
The police are complaining to
the legislature that they can't
do anything," she said.
Graphic by lorraiaa Kalb
"I'm an anti drug person to
begin with, and it's really caus
ing a problem with the kids.
The marijuana law has increas
ed the hard drug use, especially
among juveniles," she said.
"Juvenile delinquency has
gone up, and Alaska has the
highest percentage of
runaways. We feel all this has
been because of the drug use,”
Faiks said. She added that mari
juana use in Alaska is four times
the national average.
I
I
Inge NcNeese a University
graduate student in public
policy, planning and manage
ment, has been named a reci
pient of the Congressional
Fellowship on Women and
Public Policy. NcNeese is cur
rently on legislative assignment
at the nation's Capitol working
in the office of Rep. Pat
Schroeder. D-Colo.
University student Carl Kaye
has been selected to participate
in the International Trade Intern
Program conducted by the Inter
national Trade and Commerce
Institute of Portland State
University fall term. Kaye is one
of 13 candidates chosen from
universities and colleges
throughout Oregon.
John Edginton. head of the
University Department of
leisure Studies and Services,
has been elected to the
53-member national Academy
of Leisure Sciences
University faculty members
Michael Ellis and Dennis
Howard are academy members
also.
The University has announc
ed its new and continuing
Deans' Scholars The scholars
are chosen for consistently
distinguished records of
academic performance
throughout the 1985-86 school
year and consists of the top 5
percent of eligible
undergraduates in each of the
six fully participating schools
or colleges.
Those continuing Deans'
Scholars include Mary Bottge,
Rose (onnett. Marino Lunsford
r
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Also included are Blake
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Julie Chapman-Ellis, Mark
Bauman, Julie Warwick, Lisa
Johnson, Kristin Moody, Ellen
Meade, Joseph Renaud, and
John Ragner were chosen also
as Deans' Scholars.
All the Deans' Scholars com
pleted 15 or more credits a term,
with at least 12 of the credits
graded. In addition, all main
tained a 3.75 grade point
average or higher.
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