A report by eight difference state agencies are making claims that enforcement of the legalization of recreational use marijuana could cost Alaska $3.7 million to $7 million.
We spoke with co-sponser of the ballot initiative Dr. Timothy Hinterberger who doesn’t agree with these studies.
Dr. Hinterberger: ” The original fiscal note was completely one-sided it simply looked at possible administrative costs that any state agency thought that they might be able to pad their budget with in response to this and it didn’t look at all on cost savings due to no longer having to enforce marijuana laws and incarcerate people and it didn’t look at all at the potential revenue generated by taxation which anyone that pays attention to the news knows, could be huge.”
We asked Hinterberger if he feels marijuana still has a chance to be legalized in the State of Alaska.
Dr. Hinterberger: “Absolutely, the polling numbers continue to be strong. We’ve got support from around the state and we have no reason to think that’s going to change, only increase in the coming months.”
Alaskans will vote on a pot legalization measure on the Aug. 19 primary ballot, leaving nine months to prepare for legalization if voters say yes.