Should the Haines Borough weigh in on a statewide initiative that, if passed, would legalize the recreational use and commercial sale of marijuana in Alaska?

Assembly member Dave Berry Tuesday proposed a resolution opposing Proposition 2, the ballot measure Alaska residents will vote on during the general election Nov. 4.

The assembly voted 4-1 to schedule a public hearing on the issue for its Aug. 26 meeting. Assembly member Debra Schnabel was opposed.

Schnabel said she didn’t understand why the assembly needs to hold a public hearing on the issue when it could just gauge community sentiment by looking at the vote results this fall.

“It makes no sense to me,” she said in an interview. “It’s a waste of energy.”

Berry, who sits on the statewide “Vote No on 2” committee, said he is concerned with the medical ramifications of legalization, particularly the accidental consumption of marijuana brownies, cookies or candy by children. “It’s just a nightmare I don’t want to support,” he said.

The law would legalize the use and sale of marijuana to people 21 and older. Personal possession would be limited to up to one ounce and six plants.

“Just because we’re a free society, there are limits we have to stand by and this is my limit. I’m morally opposed to legalizing drugs,” Berry said in an interview.

The resolution calls Proposition 2 “an extreme measure that would legalize not only marijuana but also potent and dangerous chemical concentrates and drug-infused edibles that appeal to children.”

It also refers to the proposition as “a harmful measure that ignores the severe problems that have been created by the legalization of recreational marijuana in other states, including public health hazards such as hash oil explosions, increases in driving under the influence, and deaths from edibles.”

Berry said he also is concerned legalization would conflict with federal law, which criminalizes the use and sale of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

The resolution also states “the use of marijuana has been found to have negative physical, mental, behavioral and social health consequences and is associated with diseases of the heart, brain, lungs, and vascular system,” and passage of the measure “will have negative impacts on our workforce, workforce safety and employability.”

Mayor Stephanie Scott said she dislikes the rhetoric used in the resolution. “Phrases like that… I don’t like that kind of language. I just like facts,” Scott said. “If I can find reliable medical information that says that marijuana can be addictive, I would want that in the resolution.”

Scott said one of her concerns with the proposition is its local control section, which would allow municipalities to regulate marijuana production within its borders. For example, the assembly could vote to prohibit marijuana cultivation facilities and retail stores.

“Trying to regulate marijuana cultivation and distribution could make heli-skiing regulation look like a walk in the park,” Scott said in an interview.

Scott said she wants to do more research on the potential economic, medical and legal effects of the proposition before forming an opinion. “I haven’t done enough research. My inclination right now is to vote ‘no’ on the proposition just because I’m concerned about the impact on small municipalities like ourselves of being asked by the residents to engage in local control,” she said.

Resident Dean Lari started a petition Monday to oppose the assembly’s passage of the resolution. As of Wednesday, Lari said he had collected roughly 50 signatures.

“I don’t agree with (Berry) trying to drag the whole assembly as a governing body into his opposition,” Lari said. “He can to the voting booth like everybody else. If you don’t agree, go vote ‘no.’”

Lari said it isn’t the assembly’s place to weigh in on the proposition. “This is not about whether you agree or disagree with Proposition 2. It’s about whether you want your assembly to back up one person’s personal opinion or belief,” he said.

Lari said he would continue collecting signatures until the Aug. 26 public hearing.