LETTER: Black market would still sell pot to kids

To the editor:

I am writing in response to ‘Vote ‘no’ on Prop B-1’ written by John Combs. Marijuana is rising to prominence in the minds of Alaskan citizens no matter their socioeconomic status or political ideology. While I concur with John Combs’s general position in regards to ensuring that marijuana is kept out of the possession of minors, the way in which he proposes this initiative should be achieved is logically flawed. Even in areas where the drug is legally attainable it is still subject to regulations. For example, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, you must be twenty-one years of age to smoke or otherwise consume marijuana products. Legalizing it would not eliminate the threat of black market drugs to Alaskan adolescents, they may simply be indifferent to the change in legal standing. As marijuana has become more socially acceptable, legal businesses have arisen to profit from this new niche in the Alaskan market.

However, just like alcohol, the sale of their products to anyone below the specified age is a criminal offense. This means that if a teen wishes to obtain the drug, they still have to use black market sources leaving the dealers relatively unaffected. Legalizing a substance for the purpose of attempting to remove its criminal element is essentially akin to making alcohol accessible in a formerly dry village. Alcohol may be legally accessible to mature residents, however teens will still buy it from smugglers because doing so is their only option. I implore that voters, regardless of their political affiliation, consider the repercussions of both options before voting on this proposal.

— Keefer Brown

Wasilla