Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Aug. 28, 2015

Regulate marijuana like alcohol

That's what was on the campaign signs said and that's what Alaskans voted for. The Anchorage Assembly is not respecting the voters' will with it's "open container" requirement that marijuana be carried outside the passenger compartment (in the trunk). Alcohol can be carried inside a car as long as the seal is not broken. This law assures that alcohol is not being used by the driver. Thus the term "open container." Open containers must be carried in the trunk or in a locked glove box. Too bad there isn't a way to tell if marijuana is being used by the driver. Oh wait, there is! Unburnt marijuana is marijuana that is not currently being used. The open container law should define burnt marijuana as an "open container" and treat it like alcohol. Burnt and unburnt marijuana have strong and vastly different smells making this an easy ordinance to enforce. An unlit joint or bag of weed should be treated like an unopened bottle.

Sometimes when lawmakers don't like a law and they can't repeal it, they pass restrictions that make no sense other than trying to end the activity allowed by the law that they don't support. A recent example is Texas passing restrictions on abortion clinics that forced most of them to close (laws later rejected by courts). If they can't change the law, at least they can try to sabotage it. Mayor Berkowitz should veto this ordinance and send the Assembly back to the drawing board to pass an ordinance that is not excessively restrictive and respects the will of the voters.

Legislators, Assembly members and regulators that don't support legal marijuana should get over their rare loss and respect the vote. Quit passing overly restrictive or expensive laws aimed at marijuana users and businesses that are designed to thwart the voters will. By the way, I've never been limited to purchasing one case of beer or one bottle of rum at a liquor store. Why the limits on how much marijuana I can buy or possess?

— John A. Farleigh

Anchorage

Dingman is out of line on Obama

I usually enjoy reading comments from Mike Dingman, but he has stepped over the line in bad-mouthing President Barack Obama.

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So this is a red state and will probably always be Republican, but the respect for the office of the president of the United States should always be honored. The fact that Obama is spending three days in our state should be something to be proud of. The statement "he should just stay away" is a dishonor. The limited inconvenience to aviators and traffic downtown is so temporary.

Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan should step across party lines and show some respect — as should Dingman.

— Carol J. Fuller

Anchorage

Dividend dollars can fund buyout

I recently read Gov. Walker would like a gas line buyout for Alaska, one that would put the residents of Alaska in control of the gas pipeline. What a great proposal. He estimated this would cost $100 million, but we all know that the state budget is tight.

Recently the estimated payout for the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend was stated to be in excess of $2,000 per person. If half of the recipients used Pick.Click.Give and sent $400 or more to a "Pipeline Buyout Account" this would amount to about $140 million and put the people of Alaska in control of their future. Let's do it.

— Emery Thibodeau

Kenai

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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