LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka Gives Views On Local Pot Law
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Marijuana clubs, restrictions on indoor smoking and taxing the commercial sales of marijuana were among the ideas and concerns raised at a town hall meeting on marijuana Monday night.
From left, Sitka Municipal Attorney Robin Koutchak, Interim Planning Director Scott Brylinsky, Sitka School District Superintendent Mary Wegner and Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt talk about marijuana at a town hall meeting at the Centennial Building Monday. (Sentinel Photo)
About 60 members of the public attended the city-sponsored meeting at Centennial Hall. A panel members Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt, City Attorney Robin Koutchak, School Superintendent Mary Wegner and Interim Planning Director Scott Brylinsky made brief opening statements but left most of the time in the one-hour meeting for public comments.
The meeting was broadcast live on Raven Radio, KCAW-FM.
Alaska voters approved an initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana in the November election, and the measure was approved by 70 percent of Sitka voters.
Before the election, City Attorney Robin Koutchak stressed the importance of having a local ordinance in place if the law were to pass. The statewide law goes into effect Feb. 24.
The Monday night meeting was the first of several that city officials plan to hold before introducing a local ordinance for adoption.
Ballot Measure 2 was described as “an act to tax and regulate the production, sale and use of marijuana.” Under the new law, communities may choose to opt out of allowing commercial activities, or to create a local regulatory authority to regulate the commercial growth, processing and sale of the product. Koutchak recommended that Sitka adopt the option of creating a local regulatory authority.
Available to those in attendance at the meeting was a draft ordinance which defines places where the consumption of marijuana would be prohibited, including outside a building in the central district, public parks or recreation areas, public parking lots and business parking lots, city streets, alleys, hospitals, playgrounds and public school grounds.
While some at the meeting favored keeping the regulations broad, and amending the ordinance as needs arise, others favored the opposite approach, with more restrictions.
One idea that appeared to have some traction in the room was the idea of a private marijuana club, where only members would be allowed as patrons. About half to three-quarters of the room said they favored that model. Others said they could see opportunities for economic development with a broader policy.
Some at the meeting said they supported a policy used in other states that sets limits on the number of plants a resident can possess.
Scott Brylinsky, interim planning director, attended a Marijuana Impact on Public Health and Safety conference Jan. 13 to 15 in Lone Tree, Colo., and shared information he picked up from the 500 attendees from 39 states and a handful of European countries.
“But the theme of the conference from the outset was how to balance respect for the law and the voters’ wishes while providing for legal recreational sales and use which protects public safety,” he said.
“That’s the guiding principal for government at all levels,” he said today.
Brylinsky also called attention to “significant risks associated with certain activities.”
“Two in particular are fire and explosion risk from use of flammable gases or solvents in the home production of THC concentrates, and accidental ingestion of ‘marijuana-infused products’ by children and occasionally adults,” Brylinsky said.
The marijuana-infused products can be candy, cake or other prepared food that contains the active ingredient of marijuana, THC concentrate.
“They are visually indistinguishable from untreated product,” he said.
Brylinsky said tax revenues from the sale of marijuana in states where it is legal are “significant but not massive.” About $81 million is expected in the current year in Colorado, which is about 1 percent of the state budget. In Colorado there is a 10 percent special sales tax, 15 percent excise tax and 2.9 percent general sales tax on marijuana products.
“The general consensus seems to be that marijuana legalization has not resulted in a significant change to public safety, but public safety statistics were at times cherry-picked by different presenters,” Brylinsky said.
About 17 people shared their views, but no changes were proposed to the draft ordinance. Koutchak said this would be the first of several public meetings before recreational use of marijuana is legal in Alaska.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.