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 1 German AUTO SERVICE VW’S MERCEDES BMW’S DATSUN TOYOTA rheeb* aervtct tor your tormgn cm Sine* 1963" Eugarm Of 97403 But Ph 342 2912 COLORS REPRINTS no. 126 disc 'on- ,. ■ 'rf.. ' ’»■ if . • Hand ;' • i r, r s a Pi \ «n COWRm 11x14 ENLARGEMENT from you! Uvonie neatfive o! slide Hand procesied by K 4 K Ptc tab Across Irom U ot 0 Bookstore 890 E. 13th 342-3456 Mon -Fn 10:00am-S 00pm Saturday 10 00-5 00 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 FIREFIGHTERS ASK: Save Our Services hire. Parks, Library, Streets NO ON 9 NO on 11 NO on 12 Paid loi by local 851 FuePac Kan Mem, Tret , 1400 High SI., fCl Eugene OR 97401 d Taylor, Dee Kilgore, Cheryl Fellows. Jennifer l.abunetz. I.yndelle Light and Valerie Tolbert. Also included are Blake Hodgetts, Scott Drumm, Linda Meador, Monty Hindman, Krista Laureen. Jeffrey Parsons, Ellen Cross, Lori Lott, Stephanie I,ewis, and Linda Prosser. 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. PRECISION HNRWORK9 November's SECRET PASSWORD is .. . i i A 1-4 !\ ir • L. rN" »# r v", • II# U » 1 l_I Whisper this word to us for $1 oft your November haircut 29th & Willamette 343-1182 no appointments