Pubdate: Tue, 10 Feb 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 CONSIDER NEW DRAFT OF MARIJUANA BILL

JUNEAU (AP) - Alaska lawmakers are considering a new approach to 
decriminalizing and regulating marijuana.

That approach, which was introduced in a Senate Judiciary Committee 
bill Monday, would remove marijuana, hash and hash oil from the 
state's controlled substance statutes. The 91-page bill would add the 
drug to laws addressing impairment and misconduct.

As of Feb. 24, adults 21 years and older will be able to possess up 
to an ounce of marijuana under a ballot issue passed in November. 
Lawmakers have been working on a bill that accomplishes that, and 
also updates other related laws.

The prior version of the bill was criticized for providing a defense 
in court if one was prosecuted for possessing marijuana, rather than 
legalizing it outright, as the initiative had specified.

In a written statement, marijuana legalization advocate Tim 
Hinterberger said the latest version is a "huge improvement" but 
still does not match the voter initiative entirely.

Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, said the newest bill allows adults 
to possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana. The initiative legalized 
possession of up to 1 ounce, but a previous court decision allowed 
possession at home of up to four ounces based on privacy rights.

The draft largely treats marijuana like alcohol, Coghill said.

It outlines a wide range of situations where marijuana use is still 
illegal, including on ski lifts and while driving, and prohibits 
adults from giving it to youth. The draft also adds marijuana to 
language revolving around dependency - nurses can lose their licenses 
for habitually abusing marijuana, and individuals can receive 
treatment for marijuana abuse.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, said that because marijuana can 
be medicinal, it might not be appropriate to apply all of the alcohol 
prohibitions to marijuana. He also said the penalties for youth 
possessing marijuana may need to be reviewed.

Committee members also noted that the bill would not address retail 
sales, and those will remain prohibited on Feb. 24.

According to the timeline in the ballot initiative, the state has 
nine months from Feb. 24 to write regulations for the retail and 
commercial aspects of the industry.

Gov. Bill Walker's administration plans to introduce another bill 
that would create a marijuana board this week. Such a board would be 
responsible for regulating a new commercial marijuana industry and 
would share resources with the Alcoholic Beverage Control board.

Committee chair Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, said the committee will 
go through the bill in more detail and take public testimony on Wednesday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom