State meddling may give Alaska pot question a boost Alaska's Lt. Governor wrote the text opposing a voter initiative that would essentially legalize marijuana in the state. This is controversial, according to a story in today's Anchorage Daily News, because the Lt. Governor is supposed to remain neutral in ballot issues.
Proponents of Ballot Measure 2, as well as some who oppose it, reacted angrily to the discovery, saying the lieutenant governor is supposed to remain neutral in election issues.
"It's outrageous conduct," initiative backer David Finkelstein said.
Former U.S. Attorney Wev Shea, who had offered to write the statement but was rejected, said it could provide ammunition for marijuana advocates in a court case if they lose.
"I'm just totally disgusted," he said.
The voters should be disgusted too, and I hope they show it at the polls. This is not the first time Lt. Gov. Loren Leman has illustrated bias on the marijuana initiative.
Leman's office has been challenged several times on his treatment of ballot initiatives, including the marijuana measure. In 2003, he disputed the validity of signatures gathered to put legalization on the 2004 ballot but was overruled by a Superior Court judge.
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