The Alaska House of Representatives has changed course and approved a bill that aims to revive criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, the Associated Press reported May 6.

The bill also restricts access to chemicals used to make methamphetamine.

The House had previously defeated a conference report on the bill, but voted last week to rescind that vote, then voted 24-14 in favor of the measure. "I don't think it was a reversal, I think it was an evolution toward good policy," said legislation sponsor Rep. Jay Ramras (R-Fairbanks).

The Alaska Senate already has approved the bill, and Gov. Frank Murkowski has been a strong advocate for recriminalizing marijuana. The bill amounts to a statement that marijuana is a stronger drug today than it was decades ago, when the state Supreme Court legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Supporters hope the findings will convince the court to overturn its ruling.