Ketchikan’s ad hoc Marijuana Advisory Committee meets Monday evening, and will discuss marijuana legislation moving through the House and Senate.
Borough Planning Director Chris French drafted a comparison of Senate Bill 30 and House Bill 75 for committee members. In his review, French notes that SB 30 would prohibit marijuana sales within unorganized parts of the state, which includes Prince of Wales Island, although individual villages within those unorganized areas could allow sales.
HB 75 allows local governments to prohibit marijuana sales by ordinance or by voter initiative, and, unlike the Senate version, allows sales in unorganized parts of the state. The House version also authorizes the creation of permanent advisory boards that would focus on any issues related to retail licensing and regulations.
The House bill also allows municipalities within a borough to establish their own rules regarding sales. So, under that bill, the cities of Ketchikan and Saxman would have to approve or prohibit sales separately from the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
The upcoming meeting is the second time the Marijuana Advisory Committee has gathered. The first was during the day, and there were only a few members of the public in attendance.
Monday’s meeting is set to start at 5:30 p.m. in Borough Assembly Chambers, with time for public comment at the start of the meeting.
