Pubdate: Fri, 06 Feb 2015
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: Matt Buxton

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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom