Richard,
Really?  The "criminal element" has existed for decades, and legalizing it would only help Alaska's fiscal woes, and absolutely help to keep the "drug dealers" from absconding from millions of dollars of untaxed money.
I have kids also, and I am damn sure not going to put my head in the sand and think that if we just don't talk about it ---it will go away.  
Me thinks it is better to talk with your kids about the dangers of drugs, rather than to just put all of it in a big box and call it bad.  Wake up buddy