Pubdate: Tue, 11 Nov 2014
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2014 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: Casey Grove

ALASKA LAWMAKER TO INTRODUCE BILL LIMITING LEGAL MARIJUANA SALES

ANCHORAGE - An Anchorage state legislator plans to introduce the 
first bill to restrict legal marijuana sales.

Republican Rep. Bob Lynn announced Monday he will introduce the draft 
legislation when the Legislature begins its next session in January.

Lynn's bill would prohibit the sale of marijuana within 500 feet of 
any school property and any recreation or youth center. It would also 
put limitations on marijuana advertising and prohibit pot-related 
businesses from employing convicted felons.

Vote counting from the Nov. 4 general election shows an initiative to 
legalize recreational use of marijuana passing by more than 9,600 
votes, a margin of about 4.3 percent. There are tens of thousands of 
early, absentee and questioned ballots still to count. But if the 
lead holds and the election is certified as planned by Nov. 28, 
Alaskans 21 and older will be allowed to possess and use marijuana 90 
days later, on Feb. 26.

Still, under provisions in the ballot measure, it would be at least 
nine months until a regulatory framework is in place to later allow 
the issuing of business licenses and the sale of marijuana by 
authorized retailers. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board 
would be in charge of setting regulations unless the Legislature 
decides to set up a marijuana control board.

Marijuana sales will, under the ballot measure, be subject to a $50 
per ounce state tax. Retailers will be able to buy marijuana from 
registered wholesale growers.

Even with legal marijuana sales not likely to happen for a year or 
more, Lynn said it was not too early for the Legislature to get 
involved in the regulation process.

"We don't have to rush then, do we?" Lynn said Monday. "We have to be 
careful about how we do this. I think it's timely. I think the 
Legislature needs to be a very strong voice in this."

Lynn said he opposed the legalization effort, but "the people have spoken."

North Pole Sen. John Coghill, who will be the majority leader in the 
incoming Republican-controlled Senate, said at a Senate Republicans 
news conference last week that the new marijuana law will get a 
thorough vetting in the Senate. He noted, however, that the ballot 
measure placed a lot of the implementation for legalized marijuana in 
the hands of the executive branch.

Coghill said the Legislature's Regulation Review Committee will play 
an important role in the legislative review. Other committees, such 
as the Judiciary and Health and Social Services committees, are also 
expected to be involved.

"We're going to give it a thorough hearing so people know what they 
passed, because this is a very dense piece of legislation," Coghill said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom