Drug Bill Headed For Compromise

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DRUG BILL HEADED FOR COMPROMISE
Committee: Lawmakers From Senate and House Will Convene.
JUNEAU -- A legislative conference committee has been appointed to sort out the differences between the Alaska House and Senate on a drug bill that would tighten regulations on marijuana, methamphetamine production and steroids.
The Senate on Thursday rejected a motion to rescind the changes it made to the bill last month, when it approved tacking Gov. Frank Murkowski's "must-pass" marijuana bill onto a measure meant to curb the manufacture of methamphetamines.
The marijuana bill would add harsher penalties for possession and lists a series of findings in an attempt to overturn a 31-year-old Alaska Supreme Court decision allowing small amounts of marijuana in the home. It was heard by just one House committee and held there.
The House rejected the Senate's changes to the methamphetamine bill Feb. 1 and asked the Senate to remove its changes.
The Senate rejected that motion 9-11 on Thursday.
Senate President Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage, appointed a conference committee comprising Sens. Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks; Con Bunde, R-Anchorage; and Hollis French, D-Anchorage.
They will attempt to come up with a compromise bill with House conferees Reps. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak; and Harry Crawford, D-Anchorage.
A meeting of the conference committee has not yet been scheduled.