Pubdate: Wed, 31 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
Author: Matt Buxton

GOVERNOR: NO DELAY EXPECTED IN ALASKA POT REGULATIONS

FAIRBANKS - Two weeks after Gov. Bill Walker said he was considering 
extending the rule making period for commercial marijuana sales, the 
governor said he plans for regulations to be issued on time.

After meeting with the state agencies that are expected to tackle the 
regulations, Walker said that he's confident the state can meet the 
statutory deadlines set in Ballot Measure 2.

"We have strong, cooperative leadership heading up implementation of 
this very important act," Walker said in a statement. "They assured 
me that we can meet the statutory and regulatory timelines outlined 
in the initiative that voters passed in November. I'm confident that 
we will be diligent in our efforts to make sure we have adequate 
regulations for this new industry in place and on time."

Ballot Measure 2, which passed by a wide margin throughout the 
Fairbanks North Star Borough, decriminalizes the possession, use and 
non-sale transfer of one ounce of marijuana once the law takes effect 
on Feb. 24, 2015.

It also set in motion the legalization and permitting of legal pot 
sales, which was the process Walker discussed extending at a Greater 
Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon earlier this month.

The regulations are currently under the guidance of the Alcoholic 
Beverage Control Board unless the Alaska Legislature opts to create a 
marijuana control board.

In the statement, Walker said the state will have regulations adopted 
by Nov. 24, 2015, and begin accepting applications for licenses by 
Feb. 24, 2016, in line with Ballot Measure 2. Under that timeline, 
licenses would be issued in May 2016.

The announcement was good news to people who backed the initiative. 
Bruce Schulte, the spokesman for the Alaska-based Coalition for 
Responsible Cannabis Legislation, said it's a good move that 
hopefully will allow the marijuana industry to find success.

"We recognize it's going to be a lot of work but a lot of people are 
going to be involved. We hope that everyone involved is working for a 
successful pot industry," he said. "There are challenges and 
opportunities built into this process and what we've been seeing is 
as more elected officials they're not seeing just the challenges but 
the opportunities as well."

Additional information on the state's regulations, including a 
helpful FAQ and to sign up to be notified of any state developments, 
visit the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's website at 
http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/abc.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom