Marijuana

U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is among 43 U.S. House members asking that Congress prevent the Justice Department from pursuing federal drug cases against people who are complying with their state’s medical marijuana laws.

Ketchikan’s first marijuana retail store opened its doors to customers at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, which was a few days later than originally planned. The 50-plus people in line were happy to buy legal cannabis for the first time in Alaska’s First City.

The Juneau Planning Commission unanimously gave the green light to a 6,000-square-foot warehouse marijuana grow operation at its Tuesday meeting.

Another marijuana grow facility is scheduled to go before the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. If approved, it would add to the growing number of licensed cultivators in the capital city.

A group of U.S. senators – including one Alaskan – is asking the Justice Department to keep existing guidance on marijuana laws. The request came in a letter signed by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Elizabeth Warren, D-Ma., and nine other senators. They asked U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to continue upholding the Cole Memo — a 2013 document stating that Federal officials will not take enforcement action in states that have opted to legalize and regulate cannabis.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Thursday he expects the Department of Justice will step up enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Spicer didn’t elaborate on what that might entail, and there are no details yet about how this will affect states that have set up recreational marijuana industries. If enforcement is increased, it could collide with…