LETTER: Fear-mongering over marijuana is wrong

Dear editor, this letter is in reference to Ex mayor Larry Devilbiss letter on the upcoming voter initiative.

It is terrible that people in this day and age are fear mongering over the legalization of cannabis.

Right now our state is in a recession.

This could last awhile as one of our main resources for state funding (oil) has basically tanked.

So I’m incredulous that a group of people are trying to repeal a legal vote that would allow us an opportunity to fill state coffers.

What Mr. Devilbiss fails to say in his arguments is, there is proof. Studies have been done to show all drug abuse for heroin or oxycodone are reduced by 25% when a state legalized marijuana. Contrary to his statements, less kids will use cannabis if it is legal. You only have to look at studies coming from other states or look Portugal to see the effects.

As the Frontiersman is a major distributer of information, I implore you and people who are opposed in our community to educate themselves on all the wonderful things that we could make happen by merging cannabis into the Alaskan market. Right now is a financially critical time for us. Let’s make a future for our kids that they can be proud of. Let’s create jobs, raise money through taxation and use that for drug rehab and to prop up our economy. If we agree to have this right taken away from us we have indeed lost a great deal more than our own personal rights. So please vote no on Prop B-1. Support your community and look towards a green future.

— Savon Duchein

Medical Liaison of the Marijuana advisory committee of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough