As Alaska lawmakers work on regulations for commercial marijuana, a conference in Washington is drawing officials from places which have legalized marijuana.
The focus of that conference is mostly one question: How do we know if it’s working?
Alaskan officials are said to be attending the conference, along with those from states and countries who have also legalized or are considering legalization.
Organizers say it is crucial to get a better handle on data being collected about the impacts of legalization and to consider future research needed.
Otherwise, it will be hard to quantify how the major social policy change happening across the U.S. is affecting everything from school suspension rates to traffic fatalities.
Alaskan voters approved recreational marijuana for those 21 and over in November 2014 and that was implemented in February.
Lawmakers are expecting to begin the permitting process for commercial marijuana sometime in 2016.