The Borough Assembly chambers remained packed five hours into Tuesday’s meeting as community members waited anxiously to see if an ordinance would be introduced to ask voters outside city limits if they’d like to ban commercial marijuana. The introduction of the ordinance was postponed.
The meeting began with testimony voicing anger about a recent newspaper opinion article written by Assembly Member Stan Welles that compared the marijuana industry to ISIS in his closing statement.
Testimony: “This just had to be brought up, because it’s unacceptable, disrespectful, and should be reprimanded. Mr. Stan Welles, you should be ashamed of yourself…
Asm. Gilman: “We’re going to cut you off because we’re not going to make any personal attacks against any members of the Assembly.
Testimony: “And to be compared to ISIS for that, well I’m here to fight for people’s rights and protect their vote and if that makes me an ISIS member then I’m proud to be one.
“I’m trying to become one of these new business people. I served my country in the Persian Gulf and Somalia. How dare you?”
Public testimony on items not appearing on the agenda, like the was cut off at its 20 minute limit. Despite hours spent debating a Local Option Zoning ordinance only to have it postponed, testimony at 10:30 pm on the introduction of the ordinance to ban borough canna-business was passionate on both sides.
Testimony: “Are the people that are selling this going to take some responsibility if there is an injury accident, what’s their part in this? Can they be held responsible?
“What I’ve heard today seems to be an antiquated and misguided opinion that seems to stem from the Reefer Madness of the 1950’s.
“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here, I would like to thank Mr. Gilman for offering the opportunity locally to vote on this issue.”
Testimony continued until midnight, when Assembly President and ordinance sponsor Blaine Gilman was forced to postpone the hearing on the introduction until the next meeting in accordance with assembly rules.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s next meeting will convene at 6:00 pm on April 19 in Seward. If approved for introduction, the ordinance will be up for more public testimony on May 3 in the Borough Assembly Chambers.
