The state of Alaska is working to finalize regulations that will help govern its legal marijuana trade. Some industry supporters say a proposed ban on on-site consumption contradicts the initiative voters approved.
Over 100 Alaskans testified during the final teleconferenced public comment held by the Marijuana Control Board in October, many urging the board to reconsider the ban on cannabis clubs.
“If the intent is to accommodate the stated will of the community and in so doing, maintain a clear segregation between someone who robs old ladies for crack and someone who likes to smoke pot, allowing cannabis clubs to operate during the interim that legislation can be arrived at is something that is owed to the community.
“My mother has scoliosis and she is 65 years old. She doesn’t know many people, she’s not going to go out and go find somebody to go get her some marijuana.”
The board is scheduled to meet Friday to consider possible amendments and work toward adopting the rules ahead of a Tuesday, November 24, deadline.
In addition to the club ban, board members will consider regulations to allow local governments to protest license applications for marijuana establishments as well as set a single-serve potency limit for edibles lower than the limit in Colorado and Washington, the first states to legalize recreational pot.