Posted on 04/12/2006 1:20:34 PM PDT by LouAvul
Well, it was bad enough that the citizens of Alaska passed a voter-driven referendum in 1990 to make it illegal!
Yes, voter-driven referenda are always fact-based. That's why you're such a big fan of them, right?
Apparently their governor is a dope.
yes and what was the result? did they make it illegal? if not, why? because of the majority who voted against making it illegal? sorry for the questions, just wondering?
Yes. The referendum passed in 1990.
It was challenged, however, in the State Supreme Court as a violation of Alaska's constitutional right to privacy.
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that the law did indeed violate the right to privacy and struck it down. But they ruled that the right to privacy only protected up to 4 ounces of marijuana, no more, and not any other drug.
Now that is some limited "right" to privacy!
(The latest news is that the governor is trying to recriminalize possession and trigger a constitutional challenge.)
Oh thanks! that is interesting! but why all of sudden they started to think that pot was in fact dangerous?? you know, despite all those post i made, robert, i still have a lil something that tells me legalizing drugs wouldn't be the right thing...but i can't put my finger on it and that is why i am only posting on one issue (as a lot of people are crying about that fact!!) and i don't like to have a feeling without any rational thoughts yet, indicating a possible withdrawal of brqainwash from drug propaganda when i was young...
The 1990 referendum was in response to a 1988 University of Alaska study that showed Alaskan teens using marijuana at twice the national teen average.
After the referendum passed (and was going through legal challenges), Alaskan teen use dropped to within 1% of the national average.
"i still have a lil something that tells me legalizing drugs wouldn't be the right thing...but i can't put my finger on it"
Well, this would be a good reason. Legalizing marijuana for adults sends a message to teens that the drug isn't so bad after all. As further proof, despite the fact that marijuana is easier for teens to obtain than alcohol, teens use alcohol 2:1 over marijuana.
"The 1990 referendum was in response to a 1988 University of Alaska study that showed Alaskan teens using marijuana at twice the national teen average."
the thing you got to consider also is how do they know who's smoking for real or not? americans under strict laws against pot won't be proud to say they smoke pot, as opposed to alaskians who doesn't fear oppression... also in alaska it is legal to grow, so there is no control over it...take amsterdam, not everybody (teens) has access to it directly and a few are making it a living by growing it cut they have a coffee shop! the drug use by capita is by far less lower than in the usa...and truly what do you want to do else in alaska? drink?
"teens use alcohol 2:1 over marijuana."
where did you get those numbers? i found the opposit everywhere!
It's an anonymous survey -- why would they lie? And if it's your contention that they're going to lie and say they don't smoke pot, there's probably just as many who lie and say they do (because it's cool). If you have any evidence that some survey is flawed, I'd be interested in seeing that.
"also in alaska it is legal to grow, so there is no control over it"
Good point. That's probably one reason for increased teen use.
"take amsterdam ... drug use by capita is by far less lower than in the usa"
You mean marijuana use? Yeah, I think it is. But so what? That's a whole different culture. The teen marijuana use may be lower, but they have a real problem in The Netherlands with teen binge drinking -- double the US. The teens there would rather drink and get drunk rather than smoke and get high. How can you compare that culture to ours?
We drink less saki in the US than they do in Japan. Is that significant? It there a problem with Japanese laws? No, it's their culture. It's what they do.
"...and truly what do you want to do else in alaska? drink?"
That's true. By itself, that would account for increased marijuana use. But keep in mind that after the referendum passed and marijuana was made illegal, teen use dropped to within 1% of the national average.
"teens use alcohol 2:1 over marijuana." where did you get those numbers? i found the opposit everywhere!"
Really Where? This is the information I have. You'll see that "Past Month" use for alcohol is double that for marijuana, despite the fact that teens say marijuana is easier to get!
| Substance | YRBS | NSDUH (January–June) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2004 | 2003 | 2004 | |
| Alcohol | ||||
| Lifetime Use | 74.9 | -- | 63.1 | 60.8 |
| Past Month Use | 44.9 | -- | 29.1 | 29.1 |
| Cigarettes | ||||
| Lifetime Use | 58.4 | -- | 46.0 | 43.7 |
| Past Month Use | 21.9 | -- | 20.2 | 19.8 |
| Marijuana | ||||
| Lifetime Use | 40.2 | -- | 32.5 | 31.7 |
| Past Month Use | 22.4 | -- | 13.2 | 12.1 |
| Cocaine | ||||
| Lifetime Use | 8.7 | -- | 5.3 | 4.5 |
| Past Month Use | 4.1 | -- | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| Inhalants | ||||
| Lifetime Use | 12.1 | -- | 11.8 | 11.7 |
| Past Month Use | 3.9 | -- | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| -- Not available. The YRBS is only conducted every 2 years. YRBS = Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Sources: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, January-June for 2003 and 2004. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2003. |
||||
"lie and say they do (because it's cool). If you have any evidence that some survey is flawed, I'd be interested in seeing that."
well to lie because it's cool is less likely to happen than lie for your own protection because you never really can guarranty if it's really anonymous, but who knows! but if some kids said they smoked pot because it's cool well belive me that if they didn't, they will... and if you have any evidence that some survey are NOT flawed, i'd be interested in seeing that...surveys are hardly a reliable source because they are based on the honesty of people only! how can you control that?
"Good point. That's probably one reason for increased teen use." yeah well i think it could make some sens...
Sorry to ask you questions but i have a hard time finding informations about alaska! "teen use dropped to within 1% of the national average." but what happened when it was put back to legal? also should we consider 1 % a significant drop for a small population like alsaka's teen?
"Really Where?"
yeah well after reading the source of your survey, i think it is a bit more accurate than the other one i found...i guess what would explain that, is the attractive ads you get for tobacco and alcohol product, which we don't have here in canada, and affects the use rate...but again, a survey can't be accurate enough...and now we go back to if drugs were made legal, you would get a better budget to finance PROPER education, which we lack actually, even against alcohol and cigarette threats...
because the worse thing actually is the articles posted by john walter and company which are way off the track...teen's confidence are such easily lost...if they try pot actually and see that at first it is not that bad no wonder they are going to abuse from other substance...because the only education they get right now is things like; just say no (which is against man's nature to curiosity) or i read that smoking pot can make man have tits...so you know...
but at least if it was legal, children wouldn't get their pot in the school yard...
but let's continue to post, i feel we are getting somewhere!
We don't know. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled the referendum unconstitutional in 2004, so marijuana was just re-relegalized. I expect teen use in Alaska to start to outpace the national average.
also should we consider 1 % a significant drop for a small population like alsaka's teen? "
Ah. Allow me to clarify. The following percentages aren't exact -- they're to give you an example of what I was talking about.
In 1988, Alaskan teen use was double the national average. Let's say the U.S. national teen average was 12%. That means 24% of Alaskan teens were using marijuana.
The referendum passed in 1990, and by 2001 Alaskan teen use dropped to within 1% of the national teen average. In 2001, I believe the national teen average was 8%. Alaskan teen use was 9%.
I hope that clarifies it.
well yes it clarified! thanks for your patience! but hey robert i don't think i've ever asked you and if you feel it is too personnal, answer me by private mail, have you ever tried pot (but inhaled!!!)
Thanks and have a good week-end!
As I've stated to others, any personal information about me can be found on my profile page.
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I'll answer your question and raise your bet to a proclamation the the public-
I have smoked cannabis for over 33 year. I find it to be useful for pain relief of muscle/skeletal problems, great for relaxation and meditation, makes watching movies and listening to music more interesting, improves conservation (in many instances), nice aphrodisiac. ---I could go on.
The short answer to the point of this tread is that individual rights trump any moral war the governments should wage against our population. Also - prohibition doesn't work- at least not for the population at large. All it does is line the pockets of bureaucracies and crime.
I'm sure bob can find a way to justify this, which makes me wonder what business he is in. Maybe, he profits from the war against me and others who enjoy cannabis?
why do you have to send me back there when a simple yes or no would do the thing? anyway, i went there, in respect for your right to "secrecy" (not sure if it's the right word, excuse my english), but didn't find the answer i was looking for...Is the "about" page considered the profile page?
Thanks!
I consider that to be personal information, irrelevant to the discussion. Sorry.
because it seems to be common belief that an ex stoner is hiding behind his addiction (ex-addiction??? sarc) and lies and is not honnest, or what ever BS...
It's my stock response to personal questions. The fact that the information isn't there IS your answer.
"And please tell me why is that question so irrelevant to the discussion?"
The issue we're discussing is Alaska's liberal marijuana laws, not robertpaulsen's drug use (or non-drug use). If the thread were about me, you'd have a point.
I will not discuss this further. Please respect my privacy.
haha! you're one funny guy! but i like your nick name! one my favorite cult movie!! i guess we'll have a talk later on another thread!
my pleasure!
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