Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2015
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: Molly Dischner, Associated Press

ALASKA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER NEW APPROACH TO MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A Senate committee is considering a new 
approach to decriminalizing marijuana.

The Senate Finance Committee on Monday heard about a new draft of the 
bill intended to decriminalize possession, growth and transportation 
of limited amounts of marijuana for adults 21 years and older. The 
draft would list marijuana as a controlled substance, but include a 
non-applicability section that essentially would create an exception 
to controlled substance crimes for acts that are within the bounds of 
a voter initiative passed in November. That initiative legalized 
recreational use of pot.

The draft also would still allow for a commercial industry, as the 
initiative intended.

Committee co-chair Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, brought the draft 
up as a possible substitute to the one currently in committee and had 
staff present it. But a decision about whether to formally substitute 
it will be made Tuesday.

In an email to supporters Monday, legalization advocate Tim 
Hinterberger wrote that the amended version included "damaging" 
components but did not elaborate on those.

The bill would adjust state law to change some of the crimes 
associated with marijuana growth or possession, including 
differentiating between different misdemeanors and felonies based on 
weight. It also would create violations for the acts prohibited in 
the initiative, including public consumption. It would make it a 
crime to provide a minor with marijuana.

Another provision of the bill would ensure that if a minor received a 
violation for consuming or possessing marijuana, it was not listed on 
the state's online court system.

The bill allows for deliveries of marijuana, but some lawmakers said 
they want to specify that it only refers to a definition of delivery 
that revolves around selling it across a counter, rather than 
allowing a retail establishment to deliver it to a person's home.

MacKinnon said she intends to take public testimony on the bill Wednesday.

The proposed draft is much shorter than the bill it would replace.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom