Editor's Note: Advocates and opponents of Alaska's Ballot Measure 2, which would legalize recreational use of marijuana in the state, are stepping up their games as the clock ticks down to voting day. This opinion piece was written by the chapter president of the Alaska Peace Officers Association, "a professional and fraternal organization whose membership consists of law enforcement and corrections officers, prosecutors and security professionals working at federal, state and local levels." Pro-legalization advocates will likely take issue with a number of the issues laid out here, such as, where the APOA president writes:
"Legalization of marijuana can cause an increase in marijuana-related traffic crashes, including fatalities …" and "Colorado’s experience with marijuana provides insight into what can be expected if Alaska follows their lead. Their recreational legalization does not have enough data yet to be useful; however, Colorado’s experience with a large medical marijuana user group leaves little doubt of its negative effect."
Some big assumptions are made here, and I'd love to see a pro-legalization opinion piece written that counters some of the questionable logic used.
Related story: Anchorage hearing on marijuana ballot measure quickly grows heated
On behalf of our membership, the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA) State Board writes this letter in opposition to the legalization of marijuana. We offer our take on the legalization of marijuana’s impacts to Alaska financially, medically, and socially. Then we will provide an overview of issues that have arisen in Colorado.
There is a fiscal impact to law enforcement, the health care system, and the economy. Law enforcement will require additional training for marijuana related offenses (driving under the influence of marijuana) and underage marijuana use.
