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STATE REPS PREDICT FEW PROBLEMS UNDER NEW POT LAW

JUNEAU - Lawmakers overseeing marijuana legislation said they aren't expecting things to be particularly different now that marijuana possession has become legal.

With the anticipation of Ballot Measure 2 becoming law today, lawmakers on Monday said they weren't expecting life in Alaska to be particularly different now that possession of up to one ounce of marijuana outside the home and growing up to six plants is no longer a crime.

"I don't think you're going to see a big difference," said Sen.  Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, during a weekly news conference.  "I'm sure there'll be bumps along the way, but we're all in this together."

The message came along with outreach by marijuana-legalization advocates for people to take it easy, be responsible and sit tight when it comes to commercializing marijuana.

Marijuana will continue to be a regulated substance under the law, similar to alcohol, and its sale only will go ahead once the state has the opportunity to form regulations and issue permits and licenses, a process that won't be fully complete until next year.

On Monday, a group that helped pass Ballot Measure 2 announced it would launch a "Consume Responsibly" public education campaign.

Sen.  Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, said he appreciated the public outreach by groups like that.  Stoltze chairs the Senate State Affairs Committee and has been hosting many meetings about commercialized marijuana.  Any legislation related to commercial marijuana likely will go through that committee.

"The sponsors of the initiative are out reminding the folks who supported them in passing this, that it's not as wide open as many of them think it was and not to be out trying to commercially peddle it," he said of their efforts.

With a commercial marijuana bill yet to be introduced, Stoltze said he was interested in regulating serving sizes for edibles, but said ultimately that he supported a strong deference for local communities to have say over how commercial marijuana is implemented.

"I want them to be a partner in helping develop these, whatever regulations that the state does," he said.  "And make sure that we give the appropriate deference to our communities, I would call that a must-have from the initiative sponsors on local control."

As far as continued formation of regulations, Gov.  Bill Walker introduced a bill to create a Marijuana Control Board.  The board will be similar to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which is currently in charge of forming marijuana regulations and will meet in an emergency meeting this morning to adopt a definition of public place.

Under the bill, the two will share a director and staff.  The Marijuana Control Board will be a five-member board, with one person from the public safety sector, one from the public health sector, one from rural Alaska and a maximum of two actively involved in the marijuana industry.