Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Anchorage - At the end of next month, Alaska residents will be allowed to legally possess and use marijuana recreationally, and officials have been trying to figure out the details of just how that will work.
Is Anchorage ready?
"No," says Anchorage Police Department Deputy Chief Myron Fanning. "But we're getting there."
Getting there means learning from Colorado's mistakes. Colorado passed the nation's first recreational marijuana laws in November, 2013, and became law on January 1st of last year.
It was also the host of a conference that representatives from across Alaska went to last week, and attendees spoke to the Anchorage Assembly committee on regulating and taxing marijuana on Thursday afternoon.
"One comparison we often heard was they felt like they were making the train engine as they were going down the tracks," says Municipal Assistant Attorney Todd Sherwood.
Colorado had an even shorter time window to figure out regulations for manufacturing and retail than Alaska has. Some mistakes were made.
One of the issues they've faced is what to do with edible marijuana.
"They kinda got caught off-guard by the popularity of edibles and concentrates," Sherwood said. A year after the law was passed, they've already rewritten those regulations. The changes will take effect next month.
It's because of those mistakes that Alaskans are being proactive. Talking with their counterparts in other states is one way to see problems before they happen here, such as the home production of butane hash oil. It's a form of cannabis that can resemble honey, and Anchorage Police Department Deputy Chief Myron Fanning says curbing home manufacturing is their top priority from a public safety standpoint.
"It's a very volatile process. Houses are blowing up in Colorado," Fanning said.
The drug has not been legalized by the federal government which makes banking hard for legal grow and retail operations. They often have to deal in cash and in turn have become so-called crime magnets. The delegates that went down to the conference were given a tour of one of the retail facilities.
There were 38 states and 3 countries represented at the conference, and according to Fanning, making those connections was the most valuable part. "I can pick up the phone and call some of those people and say okay I'm having this issue. What did you do here?"
Deputy clerk Amanda Moser, who attended the conference along with Fanning and Sherwood, agrees. "We're going to continue to foster these relationships."
And while the state isn't ready yet, Anchorage Assembly member Ernie Hall is confident that this was a good first step as local leaders wait on the legislature to set state regulations.
"Our departments have a much, much clearer understanding of what their tasks are going to be," Hall said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legal marijuana: Learning from Colorado's mistakes | Local News - KTUU.com Anchorage
Author: Nikki Carvajal
Contact: web@ktuu.com
Photo Credit: KTUU -TV
Website: KTUU.com - Alaskas News Source - Alaskas Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines
Is Anchorage ready?
"No," says Anchorage Police Department Deputy Chief Myron Fanning. "But we're getting there."
Getting there means learning from Colorado's mistakes. Colorado passed the nation's first recreational marijuana laws in November, 2013, and became law on January 1st of last year.
It was also the host of a conference that representatives from across Alaska went to last week, and attendees spoke to the Anchorage Assembly committee on regulating and taxing marijuana on Thursday afternoon.
"One comparison we often heard was they felt like they were making the train engine as they were going down the tracks," says Municipal Assistant Attorney Todd Sherwood.
Colorado had an even shorter time window to figure out regulations for manufacturing and retail than Alaska has. Some mistakes were made.
One of the issues they've faced is what to do with edible marijuana.
"They kinda got caught off-guard by the popularity of edibles and concentrates," Sherwood said. A year after the law was passed, they've already rewritten those regulations. The changes will take effect next month.
It's because of those mistakes that Alaskans are being proactive. Talking with their counterparts in other states is one way to see problems before they happen here, such as the home production of butane hash oil. It's a form of cannabis that can resemble honey, and Anchorage Police Department Deputy Chief Myron Fanning says curbing home manufacturing is their top priority from a public safety standpoint.
"It's a very volatile process. Houses are blowing up in Colorado," Fanning said.
The drug has not been legalized by the federal government which makes banking hard for legal grow and retail operations. They often have to deal in cash and in turn have become so-called crime magnets. The delegates that went down to the conference were given a tour of one of the retail facilities.
There were 38 states and 3 countries represented at the conference, and according to Fanning, making those connections was the most valuable part. "I can pick up the phone and call some of those people and say okay I'm having this issue. What did you do here?"
Deputy clerk Amanda Moser, who attended the conference along with Fanning and Sherwood, agrees. "We're going to continue to foster these relationships."
And while the state isn't ready yet, Anchorage Assembly member Ernie Hall is confident that this was a good first step as local leaders wait on the legislature to set state regulations.
"Our departments have a much, much clearer understanding of what their tasks are going to be," Hall said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legal marijuana: Learning from Colorado's mistakes | Local News - KTUU.com Anchorage
Author: Nikki Carvajal
Contact: web@ktuu.com
Photo Credit: KTUU -TV
Website: KTUU.com - Alaskas News Source - Alaskas Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines
