The head of the board currently in charge of writing regulations for the legalized use of recreational pot in Alaska said Tuesday that rules on edibles, advertising and extraction methods should be part of the conversation.
Alcoholic Beverage Control board executive director Cindy Franklin presented ideas for new regulations during a Senate State Affairs Committee hearing, primarily centered around public safety concerns and keeping marijuana away from minors.
Franklin suggested regulating how potent edibles could be and disallowing “adulterated edibles,” which are prepackaged foods that are unwrapped, sprayed with marijuana and resold. When popular junk food is used for those, they can be particularly appealing to youths, she said. Franklin also said a public education campaign is vital.
Alaska State Troopers Maj. Dennis Casanovas testified that his agency is looking for clarity on the definition of marijuana, as the initiative offered a broader definition than other state laws. However, with less than a month until adults can possess and transport up to an ounce of marijuana, Casanovas said troopers are also preparing for enforcement.
Assistant Attorney General Kaci Schroeder told legislators they will have to make a decision about whether hashish and hash oil would be treated the same as other forms of marijuana, as the initiative calls for, or separately, as they are currently. She raised other issues that the Law Department feels need further discussion, including whether a minor who has marijuana will be treated the same as a minor who has alcohol, what the penalty will be for violating community decisions to prohibit the new industry, and what will happen if someone tries to bring marijuana into a correctional facility.
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority CEO Jeff Jessee reminded the committee that it has the constitutional right to amend the initiative for the next two years, and repeal it after that. He suggested extending the rulemaking timeline to better consider all of the issues involved.
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