Pubdate: Thu, 06 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: Matt Buxton

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION POPULAR WITH VOTERS IN FAIRBANKS AREA

FAIRBANKS - Ballot Measure 2, the measure to legalize marijuana in 
Alaska, passed in nearly every precinct in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

According to latest-available numbers, 56.5 percent of the Fairbanks 
North Star Borough voted to legalize marijuana on Tuesday, surpassing 
the statewide vote of 52 percent.

The measure was popular throughout the borough mostly without regard 
to traditional political leanings of the districts. Of 41 voter 
precincts in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, only eight didn't 
break 50 percent in favor of the measure.

The main areas of opposition centered around North Pole, where just 
45 percent of voters favored legalizing marijuana.

The measure was most popular in the Goldstream Valley, where about 70 
percent of voters in the two large percents voted in favor.

The city of Fairbanks was generally positive about the measure, but 
most precincts voted in the range of 50 to 55 percent in favor of the measure.

The measure was popular throughout Alaska, but wasn't very popular in 
Anchorage suburbs, Wasilla and rural areas surrounding Bethel.

The measure goes into effect nine months after the election results 
are certified later this month, making marijuana use legal for people 
21 and older.

Smoking it in public will remain prohibited. Marijuana will be able 
to be sold - with a $50-per-ounce excise tax - and retailers will be 
able to buy it from registered wholesale growers.

Local communities will be able to squash the business end of the 
measure through ordinance or voter initiative.

The exact form of the retail implementation will be up to state 
officials in the coming months as they are tasked with either setting 
up a separate review board or leaving it up to the Alcoholic Beverage 
Control Board.

As to the Legislature's appetite for diving into marijuana 
legislation this session, North Pole Republican Sen. John Coghill 
told reporters at a Senate Majority press conference that the Senate 
will work on reviewing the measure.

"The (newly created) Regulation Review Committee is going to be 
significant and it's important to involve the public," he said. 
"We're going to give it (marijuana legalization) a thorough hearing 
so people know what has been passed."

For any Legislative action, Coghill said he said it likely will be 
limited because much of the specifics of implementation will be left 
up to the administration and the governor's office.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom