FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker said he is confident the rule-making process for commercial marijuana sales can proceed on time, a reversal of an earlier statement that he was thinking of extending the period.
The announcement comes two weeks after Walker said he was considering a 90-day delay in implementing a regulatory system for legal marijuana sales, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
Walker said in a statement issued Tuesday that officials assured him the statutory and regulatory timelines can be met as outlined in the ballot initiative passed by voters in November. “We have a strong, cooperative leadership heading up implementation of this very important act,” he said.
Ballot Measure 2 decriminalizes the possession, use and non-sale transfer of up to an ounce of marijuana when the new law takes effect Feb. 24.
The initiative also set in motion the legalization and permitting of marijuana sales. That is the process Walker discussed delaying earlier in December at a Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
The regulations are under the guidance of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board unless Alaska lawmakers decide to instead create a marijuana control board.
Regulations will be adopted by Nov. 24, 2015, Walker said. The state will begin accepting applications for licenses by Feb. 24, 2016, he said.
Licenses would be issued in May 2016, under the timeline in the initiative.
Initiative supporters welcomed the announcement. It's a good move toward allowing the marijuana industry to find success, said Bruce Schulte, a spokesman for the Alaska-based Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation.
“We recognize it's going to be a lot of work, but a lot of people are going to be involved,” Schulte said.
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