LETTER: Prop B-1 defense flat out wrong

To the editor:

I would like to respond to an opinion letter created by another citizen of the Mat-Su about how he believes you should vote on Prop B-1. This letter, though obviously passionate, is grossly illogical and just flat out incorrect. The writer states his concern for the “kids,” “teens,” and “young adults” of the Valley, saying that because marijuana isn’t more easily, and legally accessible to these young people, that they are going to obtain it in a more dangerous way. He goes on and on about how the “black market” is where they are, and will continue to get the cannabis. Not only this, but he claims that these “profit-seeking black marketers” are introducing these teens to harder drugs, such as heroin. He believes that the best way to remedy this so called catastrophe is to legalize the commercial sale of marijuana in the Mat-Su Borough. However, what the writer obviously fails to comprehend, is that all these “kids” he talks of, would not be allowed to buy the cannabis, whether it was legalized or not, because they are kids. It is not and never will be legal for underage Alaskans to purchase marijuana, regardless of the marijuana’s legal status. The fact is, teens who want to obtain marijuana, don’t let the law stand in their way of getting what they desire, so changing the law, will have absolutely zero impact of the welfare of Alaska’s youth.

— Mariah N. Shira

Wasilla