“AN ACT TO RE-LEGALIZE HEMP”

99HEMP

    The petition application was received in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office on April 29, 1999. A copy of othe application and signatures were sent to the Department of Law and Division of Elections on April 30, 1999 for review and verification of signatures. Notification that the Division of Elections verified 100 signatures of qualified voters was received on May 10, 1999. Legal review was received from the Department of Law on June 7, 1999. The application was certified on June 14, 1999. Petition booklets were distributed to the initiative committee on June 24, 1999. In accordance with AS 15.45.140, the initiative petition must be filed by June 24, 2000. The petition was filed on January 7, 2000. The signatures are being reviewed by the Division of Elections. The Division of Elections verified the signatures of 24,474 qualified voters on February 2, 2000. The petition was certified on February 2, 2000 and will be placed on the 2000 General Election ballot unless it is determined that substantially similar legislation is enacted before the date of the election. The petition will then be declared void and no ballot proposition will appear (AS 15.45.210).

    This bill would shield those 18 years or older from civil and criminal sanctions for the use of marijuana and other hemp products. Doctors would be allowed to prescribe marijuana, and it would be regulated like an alcoholic beverage. Amnesty would be given to those convicted in the past of marijuana crimes. The bill allows for laws limiting marijuana use in some cases to protect public safety. It directs the state to challenge federal laws that conflict with the terms of the bill. It creates an advisory panel to study restitution for persons convicted in the past of marijuana crimes.