Alaska has legal marijuana as of Tuesday, just three months after voters approved a ballot measure for recreational use. It is the third state to legalize pot.
Time magazine reported that residents and visitors over the age of 21 may own and use up to an ounce of pot, and grow up to six plants. Public consumption remains banned, and police have stated that they will enforce the law in this regard with $100 fines.
"People will not be legally lighting up out in the park tomorrow," said Cynthia Franklin, director of the state’s liquor control board.
Alaska's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is now tasked with setting up the state's marijuana retail market, however Gov. Bill Walker has introduced Senate Bill 60 to create a new marijuana board under the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
According to the Alaska Dispatch News, the bill intends for the marijuana board to include the 5-member alcohol board to "benefit from the considerable experience and expertise" of those members.
Applications for the first business licenses will not be accepted until February 2016.
Oregon approved a similar legalization bill in November, and it will become the fourth state with legal recreational marijuana this July.
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