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COMMUNITY LEADERS ASK FOR LOCAL CONTROL OVER POT REGULATIONS IN ALASKA

JUNEAU - As the Legislature sets to work on commercial marijuana regulations, local governments are asking to stay in charge of deciding just how pot sales are handled in their communities.

Local control was the common thread through much of the testimony the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard from mayors from throughout Alaska this week.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins, North Pole Mayor Bryce Ward and Assemblyman Lance Roberts testified to the committee on Thursday morning about their take on commercial marijuana regulations.

"The ability for communities to have for local zoning legislation, permitting and boards is what's most important for our community," Hopkins said.  "I've heard that from a number of municipalities.  ...  We hope that the permitting is at our front doors and not from one agency office that's not located in Fairbanks."

Hopkins said handling marijuana businesses through zoning, which can limit where such businesses can operate as well as hours of operation and other things, is the best way to meet each community's needs.

"It allows the public a lot of input into our decisions," he said.  "We hope to the maximum extent that the municipalities can maintain that structure.  It's best at the local level."

And with personal possession and use of marijuana becoming legal on Feb.  24 many communities, including those in the Fairbanks-area, have been quick to pass resolutions that define things such as what constitutes a public space.

Hopkins has said he plans to have legislation relating to commercial sales filed with the Borough Assembly soon.

Local communities have also been quicker to act while the Legislature has mulled laws relating to both the criminal laws and commercial regulations.  The law for criminal laws has been continually delayed while a bill for commercial regulation has yet to be introduced.

The elements of commercial marijuana sales that the state could help with, as described by Borough Attorney Wendy Doxey, include public safety, child protection, public education, testing and keeping Alaska-produced pot inside the state's borders.