Alaska Legislature adjourns without taking up marijuana laws
The Alaska Legislature missed a chance to clear up the state's murky marijuana laws in 2012. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 1975 that possession of under four ounces of marijuana in the home was protected from criminal sanction by the state constitution's right to privacy. However, in 2006, the legislature passed a bill, later signed by the governor, attempting to re-criminalize marijuana legislatively. A lawsuit challenging the new law was thrown out on procedural grounds leaving the state of the law somewhat in flux.
Rather than attempting to undermine the Alaska Supreme Court's decision, the legislature should consider regulating marijuana possession and sales in order to undercut the criminal market. As residents of a state that has shown time and again that it believes in the personal freedom of its citizens, each and every Alaskan is in a unique position to effect real change. You can start by writing letters to lawmakers to express your support for taxing and regulating marijuana.
If you are currently or were formerly a member of the medical, law enforcement, or legal communities, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.
Learn more about Alaska’s marijuana laws
Despite the landmark decision in Ravin v. Alaska, there were over 1,000 arrests for marijuana-related offenses in 2007, 89% of which were for simple possession. Notwithstanding the legal murkiness regarding possession in one's home, possession of one to four ounces of marijuana outside the home is a misdemeanor subject to 90 days incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000. You can read more about Alaska’s marijuana laws in this report by economist Jon Gettman, Ph.D.
Alaska had one of the highest statewide votes in history in favor of legalizing marijuana. In 2004, Ballot Measure 2 received 44.25% of the vote. Support would almost certainly be higher today, so ask your legislator to introduce legislation to tax and regulate marijuana in Alaska.
Alaska is also a medical marijuana state. If you'd like more information on the state's medical marijuana program, visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics' Marijuana Registry page.
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