Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
01/12/2006 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB70 | |
| SB74 | |
| HB149 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 70 | ||
| = | SB 74 | ||
| = | HB 149 | ||
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 74(JUD)
"An Act making findings relating to marijuana use and
possession; relating to marijuana and misconduct involving a
controlled substance; and providing for an effective date."
This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Green stated that public testimony pertaining to this
issue would be provided.
9:06:38 AM
DR. LESTER GRINSPOON, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard
University testified via teleconference from an offnet site. He
informed the Committee that he has studied marijuana for 40 years
and is the author of numerous books and other publications on the
subject. He declined to testify, stating that the 15-minute
timeframe being afforded for his testimony would be an insufficient
amount of time in which to adequately address the 18 separate
Findings presented in Sec. 2 of the bill. Each finding would
individually "demand" a minimum of 15-minutes of "careful
discussion since they are so off-target from a scientific point of
view that they have to be carefully discussed; together they seem
to comprise a kind of modern day reefer madness." He opined that
the limited timeframe being provided to this legislation was an
indication that the Committee had "no interest in what we
[testifiers] have to say" and that the Committee had "already
prejudged this, because the nature of your Findings are so absurd
that if you're really serious about those Findings" sufficient time
would have been allotted for discussion.
In response to a comment from Co-Chair Green, Dr. Grinspoon stated
that it was not that he has chosen not to testify, it was that he
"can't testify"; he could "barely introduce himself" in the time
allotted and, as a result, the Committee would be denied the
"benefit" from his remarks. He wished "the citizens of Alaska good
luck; I hope they're not burdened with this bill the way it is."
DR. EARLYWINE, Professor, New York State University, testified via
teleconference from an offnet site. His credentials included the
authoring of a book titled "Understanding Marijuana" which was
based on his review of approximately 500 marijuana studies.
9:11:53 AM
Dr. Earlywine characterized the history of marijuana as being
"extensive," with cannabis use being documented as early as 8000 BC
and its medical use documented as early as 2800 BC. While no lethal
dose of marijuana has been established to date, research estimates
that an individual would be required to smoke a minimum of two
pounds of marijuana in that regard.
Dr. Earlywine shared that one of the concerns that has been raised
during his presentations on marijuana is "the notion that today's
marijuana has an increase in potency" when compared to its potency
in the 1970s. While it is "true that marijuana today is probably a
little stronger than it was back in the 1970s … the increase is no
where near as big as what some of us have been led to believe" via
"certain alarmist media reports". Rather than today's estimates
being "awry, it's that the estimates" conducted in the 1970s "were
inaccurate." It was unknown at that time, how tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), which is the active chemical ingredient in marijuana, "broke
down." Therefore, the one percent THC reading estimates that are
considered "typical of that era" were based on marijuana "that had
been thrown in pot police evidence lockers and allowed to degrade"
before being sent for laboratory analyses.
Dr. Earlywine informed that, in a laboratory setting, a person who
smoked marijuana with a one-percent THC level might simply
experience a headache and thus think they had been provided a
placebo. Marijuana "is not psychoactive at that level"; it could be
compared to the "THC levels in hemp and things used for clothing…"
The consensus could be that the 1970s studies underestimated the
THC strength.
9:14:31 AM
Dr. Earlywine continued that while one might hear reports today of
marijuana with THC levels ranging between 15 and 20 percent, the
average would be in the four to six percent range. He shared that,
in the 1970s, an independent laboratory that did not rely on police
marijuana evidence, had reported average THC readings in the two to
four percent range. Thus "a doubling" of the THC concentration
might be the appropriate manner in which to consider the strength
of the increase.
Dr. Earlywine stated that, "underlying all this is the tacit
assumption that … stronger marijuana is somehow more dangerous."
While, "it's true that stronger proof" alcohol might lead to
"problems more readily", that is not the case with marijuana.
Laboratory research indicates that when people smoke marijuana with
higher THC content, "they subconsciously take shorter and smaller
puffs" in an effort to control their level of intoxication. In
addition, "the impact of any inhaled smoked drug is very rapid" so
that an individual could determine "what the dose is within a few
seconds rather than the case with alcohol" consumption where it
might take more than half an hour to experience the effect.
Numerous factors such as the "state of your stomach" would come
into play with alcohol. "This idea that more potent marijuana is
necessarily more dangerous is also worth questioning." Some people
would argue "that more potent marijuana has a kind of protective
effect because it would lead to smoking less in total". Therefore
there would be less lung exposure to carcinogens.
9:16:59 AM
Co-Chair Wilken understood therefore that contrary to the ten to
14-percent THC potency range reflected in Sec. 2(1) page two lines
eight through 18 of the bill, Dr. Earlywine's testimony would be
that today's marijuana THC content would be in the four to six
percent range. To that point, he asked whether different regions of
the country might produce higher potency levels than another.
9:17:52 AM
Dr. Earlywine responded that there is "an incredible variation
across different strains and like any other plant, it responds to
good care and light" and other factors. While there is marijuana
with 14 percent THC levels, it is "extremely rare". Most of the
samples he has reviewed range between two and five percent. Other
researchers' support a four to six percent THC range.
Co-Chair Wilken pointed out that language in Sec. 2(1) page two
lines 13 and 14 states that, during the period from 1997 to 2004,
the THC level of Alaska marijuana ranged from ten to 14 percent.
9:19:09 AM
Dr. Earlywine next addressed the respiratory effects of marijuana.
"Lungs are designed to breath fresh clean air and anything that's
inhaled into them" could cause potential problems. The media
portrays marijuana as being four or eight times more carcinogenic
than cigarettes. However, there is insufficient data to support
such claims. A California study found that while those who solely
smoked marijuana "didn't have any real differences in their rates
of lung cancer", they did portray "an increase in some respiratory
problems" such as coughing and bronchitis. However, their 36
percent rate of these problems was only slightly higher than the
33-percent rate of those who did not smoke anything at all. Even
though the increase is minor, efforts to reduce respiratory issues
are being furthered. To this point, new technology "for consuming
cannabis" has been developed to prevent respiratory problems. This
device, referred to as a "Vaporizer", would "capitalize" on the
fact that marijuana could be heated to a point at which it releases
THC and other chemicals in mist form, without igniting the
marijuana; thus no carcinogens, which are the sources of
respiratory problems, would be released into the air. Therefore,
while the respiratory issues associated with cannabis are nowhere
"near as bad as cigarettes", "the advent of the vaporizer" would
negate any respiratory issue relating to marijuana use.
9:21:42 AM
Dr. Earlywine also addressed "the idea of marijuana as being a
gateway drug." It is commonly believed that once a person uses
marijuana they would be "propelled downwards towards a desire to
use cocaine and heroin and" other drugs. However, he has determined
that this is not the case. While there are people who use heroin
who say that they "used marijuana first, the vast majority of folks
who use marijuana have never even seen heroin or hard drugs".
Rather than there being "a pharmacological connection between using
cannabis and hard drugs", the connection is that "they are just
part of the same underground market."
Dr. Earlywine stated that another California study indicates that
certain personalities are risk-takers: not only might they use hard
drugs, they would also not wear their seat belts, they would have
unsafe sex, and they would ride in the front car on a roller
coaster. Such individuals would tend to be the ones using a variety
of different drugs and doing other risky things. Therefore,
marijuana usage would not predetermine that the user be on "an
inevitable quest towards hard drugs, it's just that there is a
whole subset of folks who happen to use marijuana first and then go
on to use hard drugs."
9:23:25 AM
Co-Chair Wilken understood therefore that evidence would indicate
that for the "vast majority" of marijuana users, the drug is not a
gateway. However, marijuana use might be a gateway for a minority
of the State's population; perhaps more so in Rural areas as
evidenced by the amount of problems the State is experiencing in
those areas. There might also be a physiologically propensity for
Native Alaskans in this regard as well.
9:24:10 AM
Dr. Earlywine responded that this would depend on the definition of
gateway. The original studies used the term "stepping stone"; the
idea being that people would use marijuana prior to using other
drugs. Over time, the idea has transitioned to the belief that
marijuana use "leads to these other drugs." However, no studies
would support that position. It could be that marijuana users are
exposed to other drugs due to the fact that the wares are available
in "the same underground market.
Co-Chair Wilken acknowledged.
9:24:44 AM
Dr. Earlywine next addressed the theory that cannabis use could
lead to aggression by voicing surprise that this theory has
resurfaced as laboratory research conducted 30 years prior negated
the theory. Research has been conducted in which an aggressor has
been "planted" in the laboratory setting to test the response of
the user when aggressed upon, wronged, or subjected to things such
as having their hand placed in cold water. "Counter to the affects
that we get with alcohol, marijuana either has no impact on the
aggressive response or in one study actually decreased the
aggressive response, relative to the folks who smoked a placebo."
It should be pointed out that there could be "a subset of
aggressive" personalities who happen to use marijuana; however,
research would support "that marijuana does not increase
aggression, and if anything it stays the same or actually lowers."
9:26:09 AM
Senator Dyson thanked the testifier for providing his expertise to
the Committee. He asked whether an individual's judgment might be
impaired by marijuana.
Dr. Earlywine responded that the studies that have been conducted
have focused on tasks that might not be relevant to the key issues
being experienced in Alaska. Research involving complex reaction
time tasks such as requiring a person under the influence of
marijuana to press, for instance, the red light when it lights up
or the green button when it lights up, have found that a person's
reaction is somewhat impaired. However, findings do not indicate
that a person would be willing "to take more risks" or "engage in
anything potentially dangerous". One study found the opposite
affect.
Senator Dyson clarified that, rather than to the affect on one's
coordination, his question was to whether a person's judgment of
right or wrong might be affected. He recalled theories attesting
that marijuana use inflated egos and changed "cultural norms".
There has been testimony to the fact that some users might be less
capable of making judgments about what would be "appropriate
conduct and response".
Dr. Earlywine communicated that a person intoxicated on alcohol
could "lose some of your connection to your idea of your stated
morals". In other words "the super ego is alcohol soluble".
Unfortunately the literature on marijuana is unclear on this
matter, as it is difficult to study in a laboratory setting. People
in test studies are not willing to make risky decisions "even when
they are intoxicated".
9:28:30 AM
Senator Dyson understood therefore that a person intoxicated on
marijuana might not be impaired in the matter of making good
decisions on their own behalf.
9:28:44 AM
Dr. Earlywine affirmed that to be the result of laboratory testing.
However, he noted that clinical researchers who work with marijuana
abusers have stated that the abusers have reported doing "some
silly things" when they were "high". To that point however,
laboratory testing has indicated "that often people have that
expectation or they use it as an excuse" for doing something that
they had intended to do all along. "In truth, the impact of
marijuana on tasks that require … making the best decision has been
really minimal."
Senator Dyson asked regarding the danger of allowing a marijuana
user to operate heavy equipment.
9:29:49 AM
Dr. Earlywine stated that studies relating to driving abilities of
those under the influence of marijuana have been "very
controversial". He would not recommend that anyone should "drive
after smoking marijuana". The findings of three studies that tested
marijuana users after they were involved in an accident found that
results "were comparable to folks who hadn't smoked marijuana". A
foreign study in which people smoked marijuana in a controlled
setting and drove on the streets of Amsterdam in the Netherlands
reported some small problems such as staying in the center of the
driving lane, but no impairment of stopping distance, direction
following abilities, or turn signal abilities. It appeared that
people were actually compensating in that they increased the
distance between their car and other cars, were unlikely to pass
other cars, and "they drove more slowly than the folks who had
smoked a placebo". Therefore, the study found that people who were
driving under the influence were actually compensating for their
condition.
Senator Dyson acknowledged.
9:31:00 AM
Senator Stedman stated that he would be unwilling to work around
someone who was using marijuana or drinking alcohol and operating
heavy equipment or involved in other dangerous situations.
Dr. Earlywine agreed.
Senator Stedman asked how children and young adults are affected by
using marijuana or by living in a home "where marijuana use is
prevalent", specifically how it might affect their short-term
memory and their ability to learn.
9:31:57 AM
Dr. Earlywine noted that he is currently studying this issue, as it
is the basis for another book he is writing. No one could dispute
the idea that marijuana is not for children. School literature on
this issue is "complicated". There are claims that marijuana use
would cause young people to lose their motivation and that teens
would decide not to continue their schooling or would "do very
poorly" in school. Studies have found that "high school students
who used marijuana had lower grades than their peers who did not
use". However, it was found after reviewing those students' grades
before they began to use marijuana, that their grades "were also
lower then". Therefore, rather than marijuana use lowering their
grades, the thought is that "students who are having trouble in
school end up using marijuana at a younger age. Nevertheless", as
medical tests, including MRIs, are developed, "it is becoming
clearer and clearer that marijuana is hard on the developing brain…
this is not something that teens should play with."
Dr. Earlywine continued that literature regarding short-term memory
clearly indicates, "that during intoxication, it is extremely hard
to learn new material". "Students should not go to class high" as
doing so would impair their ability to "absorb" new information.
Nonetheless, studies indicate that when adults are no longer
intoxicated, both their short-term and long-term memories seem to
be relatively "unaffected" by either occasional or frequent use
over a couple of years.
Senator Stedman stated that while that is good to hear, there would
continue to be concern about youth in high school who use marijuana
during those formative years, as they would have "a substantial gap
in their education".
Dr. Earlywine agreed. Nobody could attend high school and absorb
all that they were being taught if they were high.
9:34:51 AM
Senator Bunde, noting that there is considerable concern about
exposing children to second hand tobacco smoke, asked regarding the
affect of second hand marijuana smoke on children.
9:35:24 AM
Dr. Earlywine stated that no studies have been conducted in this
area. "The issue is an interesting one in part because although
marijuana may have more chemicals in it than tobacco smoke, people
tend to smoke markedly less marijuana than they do tobacco." Thus
the issue might be "relatively minor in comparison". The more
prominent issue might be the idea of smoking marijuana in front of
teens or children. This would be "ill-advised".
9:36:04 AM
Dr. Earlywine addressed the economic costs of the prohibition of
marijuana. Research indicates that absent this prohibition,
billions of dollars could be saved nationwide and law enforcement
efforts could be focused on other important issues, such as the use
of hard drugs like methamphetamine. Another recommendation would be
that law enforcement efforts focus on youth rather than adult usage
as that has more serious consequences, developmentally.
Dr. Earlywine stated that a big social issue is the evolving of
marijuana for medical uses. A number of ailments such as AIDS-
related wasting, cancers, spinal cord injuries, and migraine
headaches respond extremely well to marijuana. Allowing use of
medical marijuana for such things would be "a humane way" of
dealing with them.
Co-Chair Green noted that medical marijuana uses have been
discussed in Alaska for many years.
9:38:16 AM
Senator Olson, a medical doctor, asked whether some research
findings might be outdated; specifically whether Dr. Earlywine
agreed with the "findings that cannabis does not have any affect on
the exhibition of violence".
9:39:04 AM
Dr. Earlywine replied that those findings are "consistent with
laboratory data. There is a subset of folks who seem to be
aggressive who also seem to use marijuana, but actual marijuana
intoxication doesn't increase aggression."
9:39:24 AM
Senator Olson asked whether those finding would be maintained "in
spite of the incidents within the criminal community that has
pointed out or have stated that they do become aggressive when they
do smoke marijuana."
Dr. Earlywine remarked that upon close review, "most of those
antidotes" end up involving marijuana combined with the use of
alcohol. His own data would support that the use of alcohol "is the
contributor to aggression."
9:39:42 AM
Senator Olson revisited Dr. Earlywine's comments regarding the
carcinogens associated with smoking marijuana. A publication by a
researcher named Iverson stated that rather than the issue being
THC, the level of tar in the product is of concern.
9:40:12 AM
Dr. Earlywine agreed. The aforementioned Vaporizer would address
that issue.
Senator Olson noted that research quoted in Iverson's publication
found that pre-malignant lesions occurred when the skin of mice was
exposed to marijuana.
9:40:34 AM
Dr. Earlywine characterized that study as "an interesting one".
However, due to the fact that "the dosage that the mice were
exposed to was so high relative to what a normal human dosage would
be" that he was hesitant to draw a conclusion from those findings.
Senator Olson voiced concern in regards to the impact of marijuana
on pregnancy, particularly in regards to Alaska Native women. This
would not only affect "the generation at hand" it would affect "the
next generation". In his clinical setting experience, he has
observed that THC appears "to exacerbate other mental illnesses".
9:41:38 AM
Dr. Earlywine recounted that a 1990s study involving people who had
been diagnosed with schizophrenia had determined that those people
"should clearly stay away from marijuana", as it tended "to make
their subsequent psychotic breaks happen more readily." The media
however has encouraged the theory that marijuana could cause
schizophrenia. "That's an exaggeration".
9:42:03 AM
Co-Chair Green thanked Dr. Earlywine for his testimony.
Dr. Earlywine voiced appreciation for the opportunity to speak to
the Committee and encouraged them to contact him were there any
further questions.
Co-Chair Green acknowledged.
WILLIAM TANDESKE, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety,
remarked that his approach to any issue is one of focusing
primarily on whether the action being taken would affect the
Department's "constituents in a positive way and how do we reduce
the incidents that come up in the public's safety arena."
Commissioner Tandeske stated that the Department has identified
some "core missions for the Alaska State Troopers" including drug
and alcohol issues, rural public safety services, and Statewide
criminal investigations.
9:43:41 AM
Commissioner Tandeske stated "drug issues, including marijuana,
tend to reach across all three of those disciplines." The
Department must be provided the tools necessary to address the
issues. Since he has been involved in law enforcement in the State
since 1973, he is aware of numerous Alaska State Court decisions,
specifically the Crocker v. State decision that served to impede
law enforcement efforts to obtain search warrants. "It was an issue
that did not need resolution because the search warrant process is
a check and balance process involving a judicial officer and law
enforcement where information is vetted properly prior to issuance
of a search warrant."
Commissioner Tandeske noted that he had reviewed search warrants
obtained by his drug enforcement staff in regards to "marijuana
grows". While a significant number of those involved very small
amounts of marijuana, 90-percent of the 81 marijuana grows search
warrants in the Matanuska Valley over a four-year period involved
over a pound of marijuana. More than 92-percent of them involved
more than a quarter pound of marijuana. The conclusion is that "the
process that was in place prior to the Crocker decision was working
effectively in addressing the public's expectation of the
Department".
9:45:32 AM
Commissioner Tandeske continued that the second issue of importance
in this legislation "that is long overdue" is how the Department
would "quantify" or "weigh products" without having "to process a
marijuana grow" as a dealer would. The proposed process would allow
the Department to spend more time conducting law enforcement and
intelligence efforts and less time on the "tedious processing
issue".
Commissioner Tandeske stated that this legislation "would maintain
the checks and balances that are appropriate and that the public
expects." It would also allow the Department to conduct its
activities in a manner expected by the public.
9:46:33 AM
Co-Chair Green shared that a concern that has been expressed to her
is the retention of the rights of the recreational user who might
have a small amount of marijuana; therefore she asked whether
safeguards to address this concern have been incorporated into this
legislation.
9:46:53 AM
Commissioner Tandeske responded "absolutely". The fact that 90-
percent of the search warrants that had been served in the Mat-Su
Valley had involved more than a pound of marijuana would indicate
that the efforts are focusing on commercial grows.
9:47:27 AM
Senator Hoffman, recalling that 92-percent of the search warrants
involved at least a quarter pound of marijuana, asked the smallest
amount prosecuted relating to the remaining eight percent.
Commissioner Tandeske stated that that information would require
research. It was his experience that small amounts of marijuana
have not been prosecuted. He deferred to the Department of Law to
address the parameters for what would result in prosecution as well
as "how many convictions for small amounts might have resulted from
plea agreements from larger amounts down to smaller amounts".
Senator Olson asked regarding an earlier testifier's claim that the
THC content of marijuana thirty year's ago might have been one
percent, as this is contrary to the Department of Law's message
that the THC content might range from 14 to 20 percent. To that
point, he asked whether the Commissioner was "disputing" that
information due to shelf life and other factors.
Commissioner Tandeske voiced being unqualified to speak to the
scientific aspects of marijuana. However, he recalled that when he
was an active Alaska State Trooper, "there was a time that
marijuana in the Matanuska Valley was marketed as the best in the
world".
Senator Olson asked opponents' position on the quantifying measures
being proposed in Sec. 6 of the bill, specifically whether the
determination that the end product would be one-sixth of a live
marijuana plant's weight "would be a credible number".
9:49:56 AM
Commissioner Tandeske, while reiterating that science was not his
field of expertise, believed that "imperial data … would support
that as being a reasonable way of quantifying a grow."
Senator Olson acknowledged.
9:50:23 AM
Senator Bunde noted that "alcohol has been a problem" with most
cultures for thousands of years. One of the most common arguments
in defense of not limiting access to marijuana "is that it's no
worse than alcohol; it's not as bad as alcohol". He requested the
Department's view of this; in other words, "why bother with
marijuana" when there are worse issues to address.
Commissioner Tandeske stated that in his 26-years of experience as
a State Trooper, he has seen the affects of both "drugs and alcohol
all too graphically. It is hard to minimize the impact of
marijuana": its impact on Rural Alaska, its involvement in motor
vehicle accidents, gun "shoot outs" and other violence such as
robberies that goes with the drug trade. One of the consistent
things accompanying a marijuana grow is its being accompanied by
weapons and money. There could also be a crossover into other
drugs. He recounted that in a recent case involving a search
warrant obtained for cocaine, marijuana for sale and illegal
weapons and cash were found. Such things usually accompany the drug
trade. In response to an earlier testifier's comments that a
marijuana user who is driving might overcompensate for their
condition, he shared having arrested many people driving under the
influence of alcohol who also overcompensated for their condition.
"There's a lot of parallels."
Senator Bunde asked whether it would "be fair to summarize" that a
marijuana user might "tend to be non-violent" whereas the producer
of marijuana would "tend to be violent".
Commissioner Tandeske "hesitated to make such blanket
characterizations" of users or producers of marijuana; however, he
declared, "there is violence in the drug trade." He has had
physical confrontations with people under the influence of
marijuana as well as those under the influence of alcohol and other
drugs.
9:54:05 AM
Senator Dyson restated the question he had asked of a previous
testifier in regards to the effect that marijuana use might have on
a person's judgment. While acknowledging people's opinion that
marijuana users are "more laid back and less aggressive", he asked
whether they could also be considered as being "more compliant";
specifically whether evidence would indicate that marijuana is
being used as "a vehicle to enhance … sexual seduction".
Commissioner Tandeske responded that differentiating the cause of a
person's behavior is sometimes difficult. In addition to marijuana,
alcohol might have been consumed. Ultimately, the combination of
factors occurring in Rural Alaska resulting in such things as
accidental deaths, suicides, and violent crime must be addressed.
This effort would be part of the solution.
9:55:43 AM
Senator Dyson further clarified his question by asking whether the
Commissioner has ever encountered sexual assault, albeit non-
violent, caused by a perpetrator using marijuana "as a kind of an
access drug".
Commissioner Tandeske responded that due to the fact that he has
not recently worked in the field, he could not specifically recall
encountering such as situation.
9:56:20 AM
Senator Stedman shared that when he was in high school, he and
other students characterized the government's drug education
findings as being "almost comical due to the inaccuracies". While
not as blatant, the findings of this legislation could be viewed as
being "tilted over the line in that direction." With exception to
the Findings, he was more comfortable with the enforcement
components that would assist the Department of Public Safety with
its mission of providing public safety, obtaining search warrants,
and dealing with those possessing four or more ounces of marijuana.
9:58:02 AM
Senator Stedman opined that the Legislature would better serve the
public by concentrating more "on the intent and direction of this
bill" than on the Findings section. While the testimony thus far
has focused on the affect of marijuana on adults, he voiced concern
that the State would face more problems in the future with the
impact of the drug on children. Schoolteachers have told him that
they could smell marijuana on children's clothes in elementary
school.
9:59:14 AM
Senator Hoffman commented to the fact that the Department of Public
Safety indicates in its fiscal note that the passage of this
legislation would have zero fiscal impact. While that might be the
case, in separate testimony, the Department has testified that,
"they are overworked". It could be assumed that the added
responsibilities that would be imposed were this legislation
adopted would result in something else being moved to a position of
lesser priority. Therefore, he asked whether this was a matter of
concern to the Department, in light of the fact that no additional
personnel were being requested.
10:00:16 AM
Commissioner Tandeske responded that the Department is not
concerned as this legislation would reinstitute search warrant
provisions that had been in effect two years prior. Thus, the
probable cause provisions dealing with search warrants for
marijuana grows would be less cumbersome. Nothing else would be
negatively affected.
10:01:11 AM
WES MICHAEL MACLEOD-BALL, American Civil Liberties Union, testified
via teleconference from Anchorage and shared that, while it did not
work out, efforts had been exerted to have another testifier,
Jeffrey A. Miron, Professor of Economics at Harvard University,
discuss his June 2005 study titled "Budgetary Implications of
Marijuana Prohibition". That study's findings indicate that
legalizing marijuana would save the nation $7,700,000,000 annually
in regards to government spending on efforts to enforce the
prohibition on marijuana. Therefore, it could be extrapolated that
criminalizing marijuana in this State would incur expenses relating
to enforcing anything more that zero marijuana possession issues as
opposed to its sale or manufacturing. A table in the study
indicates that Alaska "spends less than the national average in
terms of marijuana possession arrests, but about in the middle of
the nation percentage wise in terms of sale and manufacturing
enforcement issues". Changing the marijuana possession level to
anything more than zero would not necessarily change those figures.
10:03:17 AM
Mr. Ball asked the Committee to research other drug reform studies
that are available on the Internet including Citizens Against
Government Waste's website at www.taxpayer.net\drugreform and the
American Enterprise Institute's website www.aei.org. These studies
would be informative in regards to the fiscal impact of marijuana
related legislation.
Co-Chair Green ordered the bill SET ASIDE.
AT EASE 10:04:07 AM / 10:13:46 AM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|