Pubdate: Fri, 13 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 AMEND MARIJUANA CRIMES BILL

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday 
amended a bill that would update state laws following the 
legalization of recreational use of marijuana in Alaska.

Some of the amendments were technical in nature. Others addressed 
issues raised by state officials and the public in past hearings, 
including adjusting open container laws and limiting concentrate 
purchases by transaction, rather than by day.

Lawmakers also added a section that would give regulators some 
enforcement authority over marijuana businesses in response to a 
concern raised by Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Executive Director 
Cynthia Franklin.

Earlier this week, the committee introduced a draft of the crimes 
bill that used a new approach to legalize recreational marijuana and 
update state laws.

Another change would allow emergency services personnel younger than 
21 to enter a marijuana business if services are needed there. The 
committee also discussed other underage employees, such as plumbers, 
who might need to go to a marijuana business for work; Sen. Click 
Bishop, R-Fairbanks, said he would work on a change that could allow that.

Other amendments made it clear that marijuana could not be delivered 
to a person's home for sale and would give the court system the 
option of diverting minors to a community panel, rather than going 
through the court system, for certain marijuana offenses. Alaska 
Court System representative Nancy Meade said the courts welcomed the 
option and could implement it. That's already allowed for other 
offenses committed by minors.

The committee also postponed a decision on one amendment, which would 
change the bill so that crimes associated with marijuana possession 
were based on the usable amount of the plant, not its total weight.

Committee co-chair Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, said more 
amendments would be considered Friday, including one regarding local 
control over marijuana businesses.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom