Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jul 2015
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Laurel Andrews

WALKER NAMES APPOINTEES FOR ALASKA'S FIRST MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD

The five members who will make up Alaska's first Marijuana Control 
Board were named Wednesday morning by Gov. Bill Walker.

The Marijuana Control Board is tasked with crafting Alaska's 
regulations surrounding legalized recreational and commercial 
marijuana. The board is made up of volunteers and will function under 
the auspices of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, sharing the 
staff and resources of the agency.

Walker said in a release the appointees "bring with them decades of 
experience in public health, business development and rural issues. 
With their different backgrounds and diverse skill sets, they will 
help shepherd in regulations for this new industry."

Also included in the release was an estimate by the Department of 
Revenue that tax revenues in the first year of commercial marijuana 
sales will generate between $5.1 million to $9.2 million.

Each Marijuana Control Board member represents a different sector -- 
public safety, public health, rural Alaska, the marijuana industry 
and one person from either the marijuana industry or general public. 
A total of 132 Alaskans applied for the five seats.

Two members from the marijuana industry were chosen during this 
initial selection; during the next round, a member of the general 
public may be chosen in place of a second marijuana industry seat.

Public safety: Peter Mlynarik, chief of police in Soldotna since 
2012. Mlynarik served with Alaska State Troopers for more than 20 
years before joining the Soldotna Police Department, according to the 
release. "His years in Alaska law enforcement makes him exceptionally 
qualified to understand the public safety issues associated with this 
developing industry," the release states.

Public health: Loren Jones. Jones is City and Borough of Juneau 
Assembly member who was director of the Alaska Division of Alcoholism 
and Drug Abuse, which is now part of the Division of Behavioral 
Health. He "has a long history in the substance abuse and mental 
health arenas," according to the release.

Rural seat: Mark Springer. Springer is a member of the Bethel City 
Council and is active with the Alaska Municipal League. He's lived in 
Alaska since 1976 and has conducted local government work in rural 
Alaska communities.

Marijuana industry: Bruce Schulte and Brandon Emmett, both of the 
Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation, will fill two seats. 
Schulte, an Anchorage resident, regularly testified on marijuana 
bills during the legislative session. Schulte is a commercial pilot 
and registered architect. Emmett is a Fairbanks resident who is the 
executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis 
Legislation and is involved with the Fairbanks North Star Borough's 
Marijuana Work Group.

The board has until Nov. 24 to craft regulations, which will be 
rolled out in waves.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom