Measure
2, an initiative that would make it legal to buy, sell, use and grow
limited amounts of marijuana, was favored by 43% 0f voting Alaskans.
Voters increased their support for the measure by almost 5% compared to
a similar 2000 initiative, but still fell short of the 50% needed for
passage.
The
proposal to decriminalize the possession of marijuana was defeated
118,000 to 89,000. A
similar initiative on the 2000 ballot would have made the legal age
18 for possession, cultivation, use and sale of Marijuana. It also provided amnesty for some marijuana related crimes.
That proposal received a 41% favorable vote but also fell short of the
50% needed for passage. David
Finkelstein, a former state Democratic lawmaker and treasurer of one of
several pro-marijuana groups in Anchorage, said television and radio
news outlets in Anchorage sensationalized a recent murder that was
allegedly tied to marijuana use. "I'm not saying we would have won otherwise, but it derailed the campaign and made it hard to get our message out," he said. "It's just one of those things that's hard to control." Marijuana legalization plans are already underway for the 2006 & 2008 elections.
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