Hey, politicians, pot is legal in Alaska
Cannabis is now legal in the state of Alaska as of Feb. 24, as approved by a majority of Alaska residents via Ballot Measure 2, which states that we will regulate cannabis like alcohol. Aside from a handful of rural villages alcohol is fully legal in the state of Alaska. It can be purchased literally anywhere there is a population. You can buy and consume alcohol at many public events. Some of these events are beer, wine and alcohol trade shows.
Why is it that politicians who have spent more than enough time in office (why they ended up there in the first place is beyond me) are making it illegal for cannabis to even be displayed at trade shows that are slated to be held in the near future in Anchorage. Not only is this a contradiction but a hypocrisy. The municipality is afraid of accepting revenue if it has any ties to the taboo "marijuana."
It's time for local politicians to get their heads out of the sand, so to speak, and realize that they cannot only save financial resources by stopping this ridiculous no matter what prohibition standing, and accept this excellent source of revenue that otherwise will go to the underground. This is ridiculously disgusting.
-- Garrett Steigleman
Palmer
Drill baby drill mentality isnt working
Drill baby drill, dig baby dig, consume baby consume, spend baby spend. This has been Alaska's economic and fiscal policy and mentality since the completion of the oil pipeline. When Alaska's oil economy doesn't produce enough, what's our answer? Drill faster and dig deeper.
Currently there's a worldwide oil and gas glut that's likely to last at least the next decade or two. With the implementation of the new oil and gas tax structure SB 21 we're basically paying to give away our oil. Had we built the gas line to the Lower 48 we would be paying big bucks to give our gas away also. Building a large gas line to export gas, at this time, would be highly risky.
We need to try to reduce consumption and add value to our limited nonrenewable resources. Building a petrochemical industry to make high value products and building the Susitna hydroelectric dam to provide the power could achieve that and start a much more diversified and sustainable economy.
If we continue on the current economic path we'll be leaving the next generations with little but empty wells, holes in the ground and massive debt.
-- Phillip Furbush
Wasilla
Alternative gas line project is smart
Partisanship. Frank McQueary's definition (Commentary, March 21) seems to be having the temerity to disagree with him or to question the sincerity of our oil companies' commitment to get our North Slope gas into the international marketplace. I'm willing to believe them and so are most Alaskans including, I think, the governor. But I don't believe it is picking a big partisan fight to have an alternative project ready to go if "Big Oil" decides to once again opt out. Alaska has been a bride left waiting at the altar more times than I care to count. Even Ronald Reagan said "Trust but verify." Being pro oil doesn't mean accepting every aspect of their proposal, and careful questioning and expecting straight answers is a long way from being anti-oil.
Oh, by the way, on the democratic side, it is a matter of faith that taxing the PFD is the only component of a fiscal plan that is off the table. In past years Eric Croft, Hollis French and myself and this year Sen. Wielechowski, all Democrats, have sponsored an amendment to enshrine the dividend in our state Constitution. Just because Frank McQueary says something doesn't make it true.
-- Harry Crawford
Anchorage
Recent cartoon alleging Iran nukes is not based on reality
Cartoons should tell some truth. A March 20 one on Page B-5 did the opposite.
Iran has no nuclear weapons pointed at the U.S. Iran doesn't have any nukes. The U.S. had 7,506 nukes in 2014, according to the Center for Arms Control and non-Proliferation. One American politician, John McCain, sings a little ditty advocating bombing Iran. The truth is Iran does not threaten our national security, but American politicians like McCain sure threaten Iran's national security.
The depiction of the American president telling the non-existent Iran nuke "Hands up, don't shoot" insults Americans whose unarmed loved ones were killed by cops and cop wannabes. According to one study, cops killed over 300 Americans in the U.S. That's 300 more Americans than Iranian nukes killed.
The irony is that Iran is actively fighting the terrorists who claim to be "Islamic." I wonder whose side that cartoonist is on.
-- Geoff Kennedy
Anchorage
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