Pubdate: Mon, 01 Dec 2014
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2014 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Laurel Andrews

THE GREEN RUSH: MARIJUANA BUSINESSES, ASSOCIATIONS GEAR UP

With the passage of Ballot Measure 2 last month, a new industry has 
opened up in Alaska for entrepreneurs looking to cash in on cannabis.

Recreational marijuana will be legalized in Alaska on Feb. 24, and 
the green rush has already begun. Three trade shows are planned for 
Anchorage this spring. Cannabis associations are taking shape. And 
entrepreneurs are anxious for the regulatory process to begin, as the 
laws will ultimately define what marijuana businesses look like in Alaska.

Attorney advice

California attorney Ben Adams has branded himself as Alaska Pot 
Attorney on Facebook, and he has lofty goals for his practice. "The 
industry is expanding exponentially," Adams said. "I intend to be ... 
the face of legal marijuana in Alaska."

Adams is also a co-sponsor "The Rush Is On," a cannabis trade show 
coming to Anchorage.

Originally from British Columbia, Adams worked as a public defender 
in Alaska for six years. He then moved to California, where he works 
in both criminal defense and with medical marijuana businesses. Now, 
marijuana is bringing Adams back to the state.

"Since legalization in Alaska, I probably haven't slept more than 20 
hours," Adams said. "I'm going on pure adrenaline and whiskey and coffee."

Adams' advice for entrepreneurs? "Just assemble a great team. Get a 
good lawyer. Get a CPA. Get the people behind you who can help do 
things that you don't know how to do."

Also, "If you don't have access to at least $100,000, you shouldn't 
be thinking about this," Adams said.

Anchorage attorney Lance Wells is also eyeing the marijuana market, 
forming the Alaska Cannabis Law Group, LLC., alongside attorney David Schlerf.

"My phone has been ringing off the wall since the election," Wells 
said. He has been involved in marijuana litigation for years, he 
said. The Alaska Cannabis Law Group's website advertises assistance 
in both business development plans and criminal defense.

So far, Wells is helping prospective business owners set up 
corporations, he said. In some cases, he is talking people down from 
ideas that are illegal or in a legal grey area. He said he has nearly 
a dozen clients, with new ones signing on every day.

His advice to prospective business owners? It's not going to be easy, 
nor cheap. "It's a business like any business," Wells said.

He also advises Alaskans not to start marijuana grow operations now, 
before the law is in effect. "If you don't need me now, you'll need 
me later," he joked.

Claiming a name

Meanwhile, dozens of marijuana-related business names are popping up 
in the state database: Alaska Cannabis Tours; Juneau Cannabis 
Consulting; Phatt Phreddies Marijuana Dispensary; The Cannabis Cache.

Not everyone is keen to discuss their plans, though. Numerous 
prospective business owners declined to have their names used in a 
story. Some cited perceived repercussions from employers. Others said 
they feared conflicts with federal law could cause legal issues. 
Others didn't want to disclose their potential business plans and 
give competitors insight into their ideas.

Wells said a "taboo factor" plays into such hesitancy. "A lot of 
mainstream business people (are) getting into this ... and a lot of 
people don't want to be in the limelight."

Alaskans won't know what shape the regulations may take for months. 
On Feb. 24, marijuana will be legal, and the state will have nine 
months to craft regulations. Whether regulations are shaped under the 
Alcohol Beverage Control board or a newly created Marijuana Control 
Board is up to the Legislature to decide. The state will begin 
accepting marijuana business licenses in February 2016.

Alcohol Beverage Control Board director Cynthia Franklin said the 
agency was fielding a steady stream of calls and emails from 
Alaskans. Some are interested in helping shape the regulatory 
process, others looking to procure business licenses. The agency 
already has a Frequently Asked Questions section of its website that 
will be updated as questions continue to flow in.

Influence in the process

A common cry from entrepreneurs was to be a part of that regulatory 
process. David Sanden, co-founder of Alaska Cannabis Project LLC, 
wrote the corporation was "anxiously awaiting" the beginning of 
crafting regulations. What shape his business will take -- for now, 
disclosing only that he intends to be involved in "multiple facets" 
of the industry -- will depend on what those regulations look like, he wrote.

An association has formed with the sole purpose of influencing the 
regulatory process: The Coalition for Responsible Cannabis 
Legislation. CRCL writes on its website its goal is to "work closely 
with the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board as well as state and 
local legislators to enact Cannabis regulations that serve the best 
interest of the Alaskan people, the Alaskan economy and consumer groups alike."

Bruce Schulte, spokesperson for CRCL, hopes to operate a marijuana 
business, but "it really depends on how the rules shake out."

Schulte is also part of another nonprofit just gearing up, the Alaska 
Cannabis Industry Association. The Industry Association seeks to be 
"the primary advocate for the industry once businesses start to get 
permits and go into operation," Schulte said. The nonprofit 
organization will also have a lobbyist, Schulte said.

Another organization has formed catering specifically to women. Women 
Grow -- Alaska is chapter of a national organization, was started by 
Kim Kole, an Anchorage teacher who was a vocal proponent of Ballot Measure 2..

"The Canna-business is so male-dominated ... (the organization is 
meant) to encourage and support women who would like to be involved," 
Kole said. "This isn't male-bashing at all. This is just a place 
where women feel comfortable."

Despite focusing on women entrepreneurs, men are welcome in the 
group, Kole said. A third of attendees at the group's October 
meetings were men, she said. Meetings are once monthly, and each 
month features a different speaker.

Like other entrepreneurs, Kole, who said she intends to have "some 
kind of business," hopes to influence the regulatory process as it 
gets underway.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom