Both an “abject prohibitionist” and a former government employee who has criticized social consumption lounges have been appointed to the Board, ousting at least one cannabis advocate.
Alaska Appoints Prohibitionist to Marijuana Control Board
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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has appointed two new regulators to the state Marijuana Control Board, both of whom have shown anti-cannabis leanings and one of which campaigned extensively against cannabis legalization, according to a KTOO report.
Advocates were most concerned by the replacement of Marijuana Control Board Vice Chairman Brandon Emmett, who said he was still getting over the shock. “They said that the Governor thanked me for my service, but that they were going in another direction,” said Emmett.
Emmett will be replaced by long-time anti-cannabis crusader Vivian Stiver. Stiver will take over Emmett’s position on the Board starting next month.
“I see now what the governor means when he said that they were going in another direction, appointing an abject prohibitionist. That is definitely a complete different direction.” — Brandon Emmett, via KTOO
Stiver is a former Fairbanks city council member. She held leadership positions in several anti-cannabis organizations during the run-up to legalizing in Alaska, as well as conducted two different campaigns to ban sales of legal cannabis in Fairbanks and the North Star Borough of Fairbanks.
The other appointee is former Alaska Wildlife Trooper Chris Jaime, who has spoken out against the recent passage of on-site consumption in Alaska.
The concerns are that the two new appointees to the board will slow the development of Alaska’s legal cannabis industry, especially with regard to on-site consumption.
The appointees are still pending confirmation by the legislature in February.
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