A sponsor of the initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in Alaska is concerned that public smoking restrictions that passed the state Senate would hurt proposed cannabis cafes.
In a release Friday, Tim Hinterberger says the bill would undermine the current regulatory system.
The Marijuana Control Board has approved regulations that would allow for onsite consumption of marijuana at authorized retail pot shops but the specific rules surrounding that have yet to be decided. There are no retail stores currently in operation.
Cynthia Franklin, director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, says the bill would have an impact on onsite consumption if retail marijuana stores are not exempted. She says a similar bill in the House provides for an exemption.
