Alaska became the third state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana as of today — but only if you can figure out a way to get your hands on some without actually buying it from someone else. Smoking, growing and owning marijuana is all cool under the new law, but handing over money for the stuff or smoking it in public places is still illegal.
While pot is still outlawed by the federal government, anyone over the age of 21 in Alaska can own up to an ounce of marijuana and can grow up to six plants (three can be flowering), reports Reuters.
If you can figure out a private exchange without money getting involved, that’s legal too.
Alaskan officials and the state’s regulatory board still have some things to figure out under the law, including a definition of public places where toking isn’t allowed. State regulators will have to have final rules drawn up to address taxation and marijuana sales by Nov. 24, with applications for business licenses not getting accepted for another year.
In the meantime, the police have been issuing information on how they’ll enforce the new law, which narrowly passed the state legislature in November.
“Ultimately the concern of the police department is the safety and health of our public,” Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said. “We want to make sure that people are not operating their vehicle impaired or under the influence of marijuana.”
Oregon will be next, after voters approved a similar measure, though residents will have to wait for July before the drug becomes legal.
Alaska allows recreational marijuana as campaign spreads [Reuters]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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