Pubdate: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK) Copyright: 2014 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc. Contact: http://newsminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764 A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: MAYOR HOPKINS' QUICK ACTION TO SET UP MARIJUANA PANEL BODES WELL FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATION The Fairbanks North Star Borough appears to be moving quickly toward considering regulations for the legal sale of marijuana in the borough following statewide voter approval of Ballot Measure 2 last month. Mayor Luke Hopkins deserves some praise for moving ahead briskly to ensure the borough is ready, saying he wants to introduce proposals as early as February for consideration by the Borough Assembly. And he's doing it with community involvement. He said he plans to create a panel that will begin work in January and include representatives of the local municipal governments as well as people from the fields of law enforcement, education and substance abuse treatment. And he expects to also include people who have championed legalized marijuana. That's the way it should be. Measure 2 legalizes the possession, use and non-sale transfer of marijuana effective Feb. 24 but also gives local governments such as the Fairbanks borough many powers regarding marijuana sales, among them: "A local government may prohibit the operation of marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, marijuana testing facilities or retail marijuana stores through the enactment of an ordinance or by a voter initiative." "A local government may enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this chapter or with regulations enacted pursuant to this chapter, governing the time, place, manner and number of marijuana establishment operations." "A local government may designate a local regulatory authority that is responsible for processing applications submitted for a registration to operate a marijuana establishment within the boundaries of the local government." "A local government may establish procedures for the issuance, suspension, and revocation of a registration issued by the local government ..." Given how the Measure 2 vote went in the borough, attaining easy passage in most areas, it's not expected that marijuana sales will be banned. That, of course, would be the easy choice. Crafting sensible regulations to allow the sale but, for example, to prevent marijuana retailers from being established in locations unacceptable to the general community will be a challenge. The forthcoming working group being established by Mayor Hopkins follows the successful town hall meeting held earlier this month by leaders of the borough and the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole to discuss what to do in the aftermath of Measure 2's passage. That was a good and timely first step after the November election. Much more work remains to be done, however, and that's why it's best that our local government leaders are out front on the issue now. Legalized marijuana sales are most likely coming to town. There's no reason to delay in preparing for that day. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom