Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jan 2015
Source: Frontiersman, The (Wasilla, AK)
Copyright: 2015 Wick Communications
Contact:  http://www.frontiersman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1532
Author: Brian O'Connor

FORUM CROWD PRO-POT, PRO-REGULATION

PALMER - Residents and local government officials appear cautiously 
optimistic about the future of marijuana in the Mat-Su Valley, based 
on discussion at Thursday's meeting.

Some of the commentary heard during Thursday's informal mayoral forum 
- - which involved mayors of Wasilla, Palmer, Houston, and the Mat-Su 
Borough - focused on specific policy recommendations, like the 
suggestion that a limited number of licenses be offered, and be 
initially awarded via lottery. Other recommendations, like a speaker 
who urged officials to adopt specific regulations only as specific 
problems arose, were more general.

For example, MEA project manager and power investigator Yukon Tanner 
said any approach to legalized marijuana should include provisions 
allowing for inspections based on power use.

Because marijuana is often grown indoors, it has in the past required 
large amounts of power, which law enforcement agencies, including the 
Alaska State Troopers, have often used as probable cause to raid 
marijuana-growing operations. That, in turn, often leads growers to 
steal electricity using wiring shunts around meters and other measures.

"We have collected as much as $278,000 from one individual," he said. 
"We would like you to consider some provision for utility inspection 
or utility oversight of these operations so we're assured that 
whatever power used is paid for."

"We certainly want to sell some," Tanner added. "We have a new power 
plant we want to pay for."

Another specific proposal by Walter Christolear was to set a total 
number of nontransferable permits, then void and add to the permit 
pool as business owners leave the industry. Christolear also 
suggested a set number and range of hours of operation, and that 
scales used to measure product should be inspected by the Office of 
Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement's Weights 
and Measures section.

"I think the state should have a marijuana control board, and not 
have it regulated by the alcohol control board, because they are 
inundated with alcohol problems," he said. "I think if you had two 
separate entities, it would work a lot simpler."

Others, like Bill Fikes, suggested a more unregulated industry would 
maximize potential economic benefits.

"I think you need to look at minimalistic regulations," he said. 
"Give us the opportunity to self-regulate. When you see a problem 
come up, then approach regulation."

"For over 3,000 years, marijuana's lived perfectly peacefully with 
mankind," Fikes added. "There has never been a death reported from 
marijuana use, until about 80 years ago, we made regulations about it 
and we started shooting each other over it."

While specific proposals abounded, some specifics about the law are 
presently unknown. For example, the ballot measure states that the 
bill legalizing marijuana should take effect 90 days after the 
election's certification by the Lieutenant Governor, though officials 
think that means a range of dates, from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, are the 
dates personal use provisions could go into effect, according to 
borough attorney Nicholas Spiropoulos.

Enthusiasm for the measure varied considerably among the borough's 
three incorporated municipalities. In the two precincts within the 
Palmer city limits, voters narrowly voted to approve the legalization 
of marijuana, 52 percent to 48 percent. In the lone City of Houston 
precinct, voters approved the measure 57 percent to 43 percent. Of 
the borough's three cities, Wasilla alone rejected the measure, 53 
percent to 47 percent. More broadly, Valley voters as a group 
rejected the measure.

The tone of mayoral enthusiasm for the debate largely reflected these 
measures. Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle pledged the city would hold it's 
own open forum on the subject.

Palmer Mayor Delena Johnson publicly campaigned against the measure 
during her unsuccessful bid against Rep. Bill Stoltze for a Senate 
seat, but said she would reflect voter's wishes going forward.

"I'm thankful that this issue offers so much control to local 
government," she said. "I stand by the quote 'The government closest 
to the people governs best.'"

At least two state legislators listened to a portion of the meeting 
via teleconference. Stoltze was unavailable for comment Friday, 
because he was travelling back from Colorado. Rep. Shelley Hughes 
said she had listened to large portions of the meeting. While Hughes 
is uncertain how the legislature could or should approach the issues 
surrounding recreational use, the measure may create political room 
for legislators to address needed reforms to the medical marijuana 
statutes, she said.

"A lot of votes were won and moved in the yes column on this bill 
believing it solved the medical marijuana problems," Hughes said.

Even if the Alcohol Control Board ended up taking point on the issue, 
it would need to add experts in marijuana, Hughes said.

Speakers at the Thursday forum appeared to pin a lot of economic hope 
on marijuana's potential, like Daniel Palmer.

"This has great potential of becoming a major industry within the 
state of Alaska, funding a lot of projects and other issues within 
the state. How many of you have noticed gas prices are down?" he 
said. "This might be the one thing that saves us, because people are 
going to be out of work with the North Slope companies."

"This has great potential to be abused or of great benefit to 
taxpayers and our voters," Palmer added.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom