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0:34

Janice Stevens

82:56 - 83:31

"I am continually perplexed by our local government's proclivity to choose marijuana as a sin of choice when brainstorming ways to raise revenue, when there are other vices on the island outselling marijuana tenfold. If your goal is to raise revenue for some community fund why not pick the poison with the highest revenue and the highest cost to our community? And it is not marijuana. Both alcohol and tobacco outsell marijuana and have a much higher price tag, draining our island's public safety and health resources."

“I am continually perplexed by our local government's proclivity to choose marijuana as a sin of choice when brainstorming ways to raise revenue, when there are other vices on the island outselling marijuana tenfold. If your goal is to raise revenue for some community fund why not pick the poison with the highest revenue and the highest cost to our community? And it is not marijuana. Both alcohol and tobacco outsell marijuana and have a much higher price tag, draining our island's public safety and health resources.”
Speaker
Janice Stevens
Community
Alaska News
Location
Kodiak
Captured at
July 16, 2026

From the transcript

I'm here today to voice my strong opposition to the drafted ordinance implementing a borough-wide marijuana tax on Kodiak. I am continually perplexed by our local government's proclivity to choose marijuana as a sin of choice when brainstorming ways to raise revenue, when there are other vices on the island outselling marijuana tenfold. If your goal is to raise revenue for some community fund why not pick the poison with the highest revenue and the highest cost to our community? And it is not marijuana. Both alcohol and tobacco outsell marijuana and have a much higher price tag, draining our island's public safety and health resources.

Related Coverage

Kodiak Borough advances marijuana excise tax to public hearing on 4-1 vote

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted 4-1 Thursday to advance a 3% marijuana excise tax ordinance to public hearing, drawing sharp opposition from a local dispensary owner who called the draft poorly written and said Alaska already carries the nation's highest marijuana tax.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Kodiak, Alaska
Cover image for article: Kodiak Borough advances marijuana excise tax to public hearing on 4-1 vote