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ALASKA REGULATORS PROPOSE PERMANENT DEFINITION OF PUBLIC PLACE

JUNEAU, Alaska ( AP ) - A state board wants to make permanent the emergency regulation passed this week defining public places where marijuana can't be smoked.

When voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana in November, they prohibited smoking in public but did not define what a public place was.

The state's alcohol board, which is in charge of regulating marijuana for now, met the first day of legalization to enact an emergency regulation that defines public places as anywhere generally accessible to the public, including schools, parks and roads.

The emergency regulation expires June 23.  The agency is taking comments on whether to make it permanent.

Some communities have created their own definitions, which can only enforced by local police.  Alaska State Troopers can only enforce state statutes, spokeswoman Megan Peters said by email.