As Alaska Legalizes Recreational Pot, Anchorage, the State's Largest City, Considers Opting Out

Residents will get a chance to testify Tuesday on whether the Anchorage Assembly should vote to ban commercial marijuana facilities in Alaska's largest city.

The ordinance, introduced by Eagle River Assembly member Amy Demboski, has caused supporters and opponents of the initiative, just weeks past the election, to regroup around the measure.

Demboski's ordinance, if approved by the Assembly, would allow the city to accept the "opt out" provision of Ballot Measure 2, the initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in Alaska.

Demboski has said she would like to see the city take a "wait and see" approach to the rule-making process. In an interview last month, she said the municipality should take its time and watch what comes out of the Legislature and the nine-month marijuana rule-making process that will begin in February, when the initiative goes into effect.

Anchorage appears to be the first community to consider the opt-out provision of the initiative.

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