Governor Applauds House Passage of Meth/Marijuana Bill

Governor Applauds House Passage of Meth/Marijuana Bill

Governor Frank H. Murkowski expressed his appreciation today for a vote in the Alaska State House adopting the conference committee report for House Bill 149 - the Controlled Substances bill. The legislation would control the diversion of pseudophedrine products for methamphetamine labs and will help reverse a 2004 Court of Appeals decision protecting marijuana growers.

"Members of the House should be applauded today for taking a strong stand toward protecting Alaska's children by passing this critical drug bill. I specifically want to thank the bill's sponsors, especially Rep. Jay Ramras, who worked so hard to ensure final passage of this important measure," said Murkowski. "Alaska stands on the path to new economic prosperity and our youths must be free to take this path without the dangerous roadblocks of meth labs and marijuana profiteers."

The methamphetamine provisions place sales limitations on products containing pseudophedrine, which is used in the production of the drug, and place cold remedies containing this pseudophedrine as an active ingredient behind the counters at stores.

The bill criminalizes the possession of meth in organic solution and the delivery of precursor forms of the drug for manufacturing purposes. Manufacturers of meth can be subject to stiffer prison sentences for making the drug in buildings where children reside.

"Meth labs and meth use is spreading quickly throughout this state," said Murkowski. "Meth affects the user and everyone around the user, particularly children. The Office of Children's Services is now receiving an average of 40 ‘harm to children' type calls related to meth use each month."

The bill passed by the House would also reverse a decision by the Alaska Court of Appeals in Crocker v. State, issued in 2004, that protects marijuana growers and dealers from being subjected to search warrants.

"The primary purpose of the marijuana provisions of this legislation is to target commercial growers of this drug," said Attorney General David Marquez. "This court decision has significantly tied the hands of law enforcement, reducing their ability to combat this large-scale illegal industry that targets Alaska's children." In recent weeks a joint federal and state investigation led to the arrest of six men on international marijuana trafficking laws, possessing a large supply of this drug with a street value of over $1 million. The ring was responsible for importing and trafficking at least $10 million worth of marijuana during the past five years. Since this bill went to the conference committee, a month long investigation by state law enforcement officials ended in the arrest of a Bethel man who possessed over 42 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of nearly one-million dollars.

The conference committee report for HB 149 previously passed the Senate and failed to pass the House. Friday night, the House rescinded their earlier action and voted to adopt the conference committee report.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2361