Pubdate: Sun, 22 Mar 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

LAWMAKERS WORK ON MARIJUANA BOARD BILL; STATE SEEKS MEMBERS

JUNEAU (AP) - The state is soliciting resumes for potential members 
of a new marijuana regulatory board, although lawmakers are still 
working on legislation to create such a board.

The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard an update Friday on the 
latest bill draft, which would create a five-member board that would 
share staff and resources with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

The voter initiative legalizing recreational marijuana directed the 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to write the regulations for a new 
marijuana industry. But the initiative also gave the Legislature the 
option of creating a new marijuana board to do that work. The 
governor introduced companion bills to create that board in the House 
and Senate last month.

The new draft would give the marijuana board staff enforcement 
authority and have the two marijuana industry members called for in 
the governor's original bill come from the alcohol industry for the 
first two years.

ABC Board executive director Cynthia Franklin said that although the 
agency wanted marijuana expertise for the board, it was not opposed 
to having individuals who were familiar with the alcohol regulatory 
process for the first two years.

Further work on the draft is possible, and committee vice chair Rep. 
Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, said it would be brought back up for 
discussion on Monday.

The state on Thursday posted online a request for resumes from anyone 
interested in serving on a new marijuana board, which boards and 
commissions director Karen Gillis said was a way to get a jumpstart 
on the process.

Gillis wrote in an email that the governor's office had received 12 
applications for the new board since December, although no 
solicitation for members occurred before Thursday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom