Pubdate: Sat, 07 Mar 2015
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://newsminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764

ALASKA LAWMAKERS HOLD MARIJUANA SHOW AND TELL

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska lawmakers on Friday used a committee 
hearing to learn more about marijuana as they work on regulating it.

The House Judiciary Committee has spent the past several weeks 
discussing a bill to decriminalize recreational marijuana and make 
other uses and acts illegal.

On Friday, they had the opportunity to see and smell - but not use- 
marijuana. A representative from each the Juneau Police Department, 
state Department of Law and the legalization effort provided 
information about various forms of the drug.

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, and chair of the committee, said 
she was familiar with regular marijuana, but didn't know what hash 
was or how it was used.

Previously, state law treated marijuana and hash as different 
substances; the new definition - passed as part of a voter initiative 
last fall - includes both.

Bruce Schulte, a marijuana advocate, brought in hash and hash oil. He 
explained that those substances come from resin on marijuana plants, 
whereas regular marijuana includes more of the leaf and plant matter. 
Hash is typically more potent.

Hash oil can be used in making edibles, as can a concentrate derived 
from the marijuana plant, Schulte explained. He also clarified that 
hash oil itself is not explosive, although if butane is used to 
extract it, the process can be dangerous.

Looking at the various forms prompted lawmakers to ask about the 
difference between liquid and solid weights. Under the initiative 
passed by voters in November, adults 21 years and older can possess 
up to an ounce of marijuana, whether it's leafy greens, brownish hash 
or in another form.

Kaci Schroeder, from the Department of Law's criminal division, said 
that the initiative does not distinguish between different forms or weights.

LeDoux also asked about the process for making edibles, and what 
limits might be needed.

Schulte said he thought it would be within the bounds of the 
initiative to disallow a process that alters candy and other packaged 
food products spraying or injecting it with marijuana, because they 
have a particular appeal to children, but that other types of edibles 
should be allowed.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom