Tomorrow the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is scheduled to introduce an ordinance that will ask borough voters if they support banning commercial marijuana outside of local cities.
Assemblyman Blaine Gilman sponsored the motion…
Asmb. Gilman: “The rationale for that is pretty much split in the communities on a borough-wide basis, whether commercialization should be allowed or not. When you look at the votes for the referendum[to legalize marijuana], when you look outside the cities, I would say probably a majority of people outside the cities voted against the referendum. On a borough-wide basis, they also voted against the referendum, but it was very close though.”
Gilman says while cities like Soldotna have the local option to ban marijuana businesses outright, areas like Kasilof and Sterling don’t have any ways to do that if they desire. He says this will give them an ability to weigh in on the option since the difference between support and opposition in 2014 was so close.
The ordinance proposes a local option to ban canna-businesses including retail stores, cultivation and product manufacturing facilities, and marijuana testing facilities outside of incorporated cities’ limits.
The ordinance is scheduled to be introduced for consideration by the assembly on Tuseday, April 5, but public testimony on it will not be taken until May because April’s second meeting will be held in Seward.