Alaska voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative last month during the 2014 Election. Alaska joined Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Washington D.C. in approving a marijuana legalization initiative. Marijuana opponents in Alaska started almost immediately to prevent marijuana sales from occurring in Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. Fortunately, those efforts were for not, as the Anchorage Assembly voted down an ordinance that would have banned marijuana sales within city limits. Per KTVA:
Tuesday’s Assembly meeting brought public testimony from both sides of the issue. After hearing more than 50 people share their sides, the Assembly brought the ordinance to a vote.
In the end, the Assembly shot the down the ordinance, 9-2, with Demboski and Paul Honeman as the only two who voted yes.
A 9-2 victory is significant. It shows the voters of Anchorage that an overwhelming majority of their Assembly members respect their votes. Obviously, the two Assembly members that voted for the ban are clearly out of touch, and will hopefully experience some backlash when they are up for re-election. This is a huge victory for the City of Anchorage, and for the entire State of Alaska. Hopefully sales start sooner than later so the marijuana industry can generate tax revenues, create jobs, and move marijuana sales from the blackmarket into a regulated, legitimate market.
