Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2015
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Molly Dischner, Associated Press

ALASKA LAWMAKERS HEAR FROM ADMINISTRATION ON MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

JUNEAU (AP) - Health concerns and workplace issues were flagged for 
further consideration by Alaska lawmakers Thursday as they continue 
work on drafting regulations for the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Alaska's chief medical officer, Jay Butler, told the Senate State 
Affairs Committee that there are many unknowns regarding marijuana's 
impacts, but he said there appear to be some long-term risks 
associated with the drug, particularly for adolescents. A public 
education campaign on potential risks is needed, Butler said.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, asked Butler 
to formalize recommendations on health issues for the committee.

Workforce representatives also talked about industry challenges. 
Those include federal regulations that require certain occupations to 
have a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, some employers' desire to 
prohibit marijuana use and the potential of difficulty in filling jobs.

Northern Industrial Training president Joey Crum said that after 
voters approved recreational marijuana for those 21 and older in 
November, he received 14 calls in one day from individuals asking if 
the school would remove marijuana from its pre-enrollment drug test.

But the industries the school trains for still have a no-tolerance 
policy for marijuana, in many cases because of federal regulations, he said.

The committee also heard from Elaine Busse Floyd of the Department of 
Environmental Conservation. Floyd said her department will play a 
limited role in regulating marijuana products under the ballot 
initiative, although lawmakers could change that through legislation.

Under the initiative, the department would likely be responsible for 
the food safety and sanitation side of marijuana operations, such as 
edibles production, but that the state commerce department would be 
responsible for regulating marijuana, such as serving sizes or how 
potent edibles can be, she said.

Voters in November approved an initiative under which recreational 
marijuana becomes legal Feb. 24. The state then has nine months to 
write regulations.

The Senate committee has been holding hearings to prepare for its 
involvement in vetting a commercialization bill.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom