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Alaska legalizes pot, crime explodes in Anchorage
americanthinker ^ | 3/19/2016 | Sierra Rayne

Posted on 03/19/2016 6:03:54 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: cannabis; leagalizedweed; marijuana; pot; wod
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To: rktman

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


21 posted on 03/19/2016 6:51:51 AM PDT by aynrandfreak (Being a Democrat means never having to say you're sorry)
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To: rktman

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


22 posted on 03/19/2016 6:52:31 AM PDT by wardaddy (Cruz path to nomination is a box canyon)
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To: rktman

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?


23 posted on 03/19/2016 6:52:39 AM PDT by catbertz
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy
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...

24 posted on 03/19/2016 6:57:48 AM PDT by Popman (Christ Alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: rktman

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.


25 posted on 03/19/2016 7:00:55 AM PDT by Spok ("What're you going to believe-me or your own eyes?" -Marx (Groucho))
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To: rktman

How are things in Wasilla?


26 posted on 03/19/2016 7:01:16 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: rktman

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...


27 posted on 03/19/2016 7:12:40 AM PDT by Koracan
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To: Pearls Before Swine
167% is a huge number, anywhere.

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

28 posted on 03/19/2016 7:23:54 AM PDT by eclecticEel ("The petty man forsakes what lies within his power and longs for what lies with Heaven." - Xunzi)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Not if 100%=1


29 posted on 03/19/2016 7:40:37 AM PDT by Rusty0604 (oh the stories I could tell. but I really don't think scalia's death is suspiciou.)
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To: Squantos

Sounds like you had big fun!


30 posted on 03/19/2016 7:41:36 AM PDT by W. (Screw it. Send in the Marines!)
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To: W.

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 !


31 posted on 03/19/2016 7:50:27 AM PDT by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: rktman

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


32 posted on 03/19/2016 7:53:03 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: Pearls Before Swine

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


33 posted on 03/19/2016 7:54:54 AM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
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.

34 posted on 03/19/2016 7:58:05 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big government is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
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To: eclecticEel; Pearls Before Swine; rktman; Drew68
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).


35 posted on 03/19/2016 8:02:25 AM PDT by BeauBo
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

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


36 posted on 03/19/2016 8:14:46 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: samtheman

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.


37 posted on 03/19/2016 8:16:45 AM PDT by BipolarBob
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To: Spok
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.

38 posted on 03/19/2016 8:17:42 AM PDT by USNBandit (Sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: rktman
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.

39 posted on 03/19/2016 8:19:19 AM PDT by Kenton
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To: rktman

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.


40 posted on 03/19/2016 8:21:44 AM PDT by cassiusking
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