Pubdate: Fri, 27 Feb 2015
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: Amanda Bohman

FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH SAYS POT OK OUTDOORS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

FAIRBANKS - Borough residents may use marijuana anywhere on private 
property under an ordinance approved unanimously by the assembly Thursday.

"I am strongly of the opinion that if you can drink a beer on your 
front lawn, you should be able to use cannabis on your front lawn," 
Fairbanks North Star Borough Assemblyman Christopher Quist said.

The voters last November approved more permissive marijuana laws in 
Alaska but kept it illegal in public. Various governments have been 
defining public place for the purposes of enforcing the new law.

The measure passed by the assembly defined public place about the 
same as definitions set for the state of Alaska, the city of 
Fairbanks and the city of North Pole.

The governments have defined public place as "a place to which the 
public or a substantial group of persons has access." The list 
includes schools, parks, highways, bus stops, businesses and 
apartment building lobbies and hallways. A difference with the 
borough's definition is that it also includes rivers and lakes.

Assemblyman Lance Roberts argued rivers and lakes need to be included 
in the definition because they are used for transportation.

"You could end up with snowmachiners going out and consuming," Roberts said.

The ordinance that was approved was authored by Mayor Luke Hopkins, 
who had hoped for a stricter prohibition that kept marijuana 
consumption out of public view.

Quist amended Hopkins' ordinance, encouraging the assembly to adopt a 
definition of public place that does not involve private property.

Assemblywoman Diane Hutchison pointed out marijuana use is not 
allowed in public view in Colorado and Washington, states that have 
also decriminalized marijuana.

"The people who voted yes can still use their marijuana," Hutchison 
said. "But you are not thinking about the people who voted no.

"It's not good for our kids. It's not good for our community," she said.

"I certainly hope it never becomes acceptable," agreed Roberts.

Other assembly members said they think marijuana does no more harm 
than alcohol.

"I think marijuana has far fewer affects on the public and public 
welfare than does alcohol," Assemblyman Van Lawrence said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom