Alaska legalizes pot, crime explodes in Anchorage

americanthinker ^ | 3/19/2016 | Sierra Rayne

[rktman]

In February of 2015, it became legal to grow and consume marijuana in Alaska. And, as has happened in Denver and Seattle, crime immediately began to increase after being stable or declining in the pre-legal pot era.

According to the FBI's Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report for the first six months of 2015, the number of violent crimes in Anchorage (the only city reporting for Alaska) increased 34% compared to the same period in 2014. Murders were up 167%, and aggravated assaults increased 32% versus the first six months of 2014.

[aynrandfreak]

Possession of less than 4 ounces has been legal in AK for 40 years

[wardaddy]

Ridiculous

I dislike dirty lazy hippies as much as the next guy but weed issues are minuscule compared to celebrated drink and the havoc it causes

I detest anyone beyond moderate drinkers ...as much as I used to dislike cocaine snorters in the 70s

I’ve had to deal with alkies repeatedly in my life

Selfish self pitying irrational effing destroyers

But no marijuana.....that’s your problem

I smoked it 71-84....daily ultra chronic...old Wardaddy coulda smoked the whole Magdalena valley

I’m I some sorta lib hippie?

Free Republic pot fascination is entertaining

[catbertz]

I didn’t read the full article, and I’m not a pot supporter, but dramatic numbers like these make me suspicious of spin. This sounds similar to global warming propaganda. What are the numbers from non-legalized cities for comparison? Perhaps the crime rate increase isn’t related to legalization?

[Popman]

To point out the *glaringly* obvious, it must be noted that the *last* time Alaska legalized marijuana, in 1975, this did *not* happen.

Not sure if it's a relevant point, but pot from the 70's compared to pot today is far less potent...

I can see more mental health issues popping up today because of the difference, but I don't see additional crime data points taking place...

[Spok]

Cheap heroin flowing through our open southern border is fueling a drug epidemic like we have never seen, and generating the crime that comes with desperate addicts raising money to support their addiction. More hope and change fallout.

[Don Corleone]

How are things in Wasilla?

[Koracan]

Possible reason.:

.....Thousands of federal drug inmates set for early release.....

They probably went all to Alaska.

US prison is usually not considered a Reform House, quite the opposite, and after release, with permanent records and all.....hard...

[eclecticEel]

167% is a huge number, anywhere.

No it's not, 5 is 167% of 3.

[Rusty0604]

Not if 100%=1

[W.]

Sounds like you had big fun!

[Squantos]

Yes I enjoyed my travels with uncle sugars wind force shy of a few scary pucker factor moments or two....... :o)

Made every destination my home, learned the history, the culture, the food and languages..... was fun indeed !

[Wolfie]

Pot has been legal in Alaska since 1975 under Alaska’s Constitution, see Ravin v. State.

[going hot]

from 3 murders to 5? or are they talking tens or more?

[PapaBear3625]

Murders up 167%, and it’s all because of pot? Doesn’t sound right to me.

The old illegal pot dealers are finding themselves without as many customers, and are turning to other activities, and are finding resistance from the people already established in those activities.

Wait a year, when the pot dealers are either in jail or dead. Crime will go back down.

[BeauBo]

I wonder if the collapse of oil prices put some young men out of work.

Another possibility, is new people moving in to the area. A few hundred young men coming in for a big construction job, a few dozen gang members coming to run a drug operation, or a few hundred Middle Eastern refugees (young men) being airlifted in, could all make an impact on violent crime rates. Violent crime is predominately a young man's game - that is the demographic to analyze.

The graphic in the article shows less of a rise than the words report - 23% (2,600 to 3,200 - about 50 more incidents per month).

[elcid1970]

I have always wondered if that girl on the High Times cover was a real Inuit.

[BipolarBob]

Yeah it’s gotta be the pot, man. Like there could be no other reason for this. They’ve ruled out all other possible causes in this well articulated article.

[USNBandit]

Lots of Feds openly discussing the concept of federal legalization. Not for the sake of dopers in the US, but to hurt the cartels. Marijuana is still their main cash crop and to take that away overnight would hurt them.

My main concern is the potential for violence inside the US as the cartels fight over the remaining drug trade. Where Cartels used to handle importation of drugs, they now control the interstate trade down to at least the wholesale level. Most of that manpower in the US is illegal, although some are on Obama's deferral program. It would be very naive to think the next major cartel war would be isolated to the Mexican side of the border.

[Kenton]

Pot is the least of their problems. They've got meth, heroin, oxycontin, cocaine, not to mention a chronic alcohol problem in the native (Inuit) villages.

The cops are stretched real thin up there. They may have just decided that they only have the manpower to enforce serious laws, including drug laws on meth, oxy and drugs like it. In other words, it was just too expensive to vigorously enforce pot laws, so they got rid of them.

[cassiusking]

I can believe it if they are all smoking skunk weed. It makes 15% of heavy users psychotic. That coupled with the long winter nights can make for some serious behavioral issues.