Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski and others are hoping that the state legislature will find a way to overrule the courts. Officials like assistant attorney general Dean Guaneli went to the statehouse this week to argue that lawmakers have an overriding interest in banning marijuana use despite the constitutional protections. They argued that marijuana is increasingly potent and linked to violent crime -- a claim that met with some skepticism among legislators.

"I used to understand that smoking grass made people mellow out," said Sen. Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River), chairman of the Health and Social Services Committee.

The committee will also hear from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Alaskans for Marijuana Regulation and Control, who agree with the court rulings on marijuana use. They are expected to dispute the stated links between pot and violent crime, and to contend that stronger pot only means that users can smoke less to get high.

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