02/02/2018 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

          SB 128-MARIJUANA EDU/TREATMENT FUND/PROGRAM                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:31:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SB 128 and opened                                                                   
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:32:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL said  some are asking why SB 128  only sets aside                                                               
25  percent  of  the  marijuana tax  revenue  for  the  marijuana                                                               
education fund,  with another 25  percent going into  the general                                                               
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:32:48 PM                                                                                                                    
JAY BUTLER,  M.D., Chief Medical Officer/Director,  Department of                                                               
Health and Social Services (DHSS),  answered questions on SB 128.                                                               
He  said additional  allocations to  the fund  could be  used for                                                               
afterschool  programs and  other programs  focused on  preventing                                                               
youth initiation of marijuana.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  said,  to  restate,  the  legislature,  as  the                                                               
appropriative  authority,  has the  authority  to  exceed the  25                                                               
percent  contribution  to  the marijuana  education  fund  if  it                                                               
chooses.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Butler said  that was his understanding also.  In the Tobacco                                                               
Education Use and  Cessation Fund, the tax revenue  goes into the                                                               
fund, but appropriations are done  by the legislature through the                                                               
usual budgetary process.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL mentioned an article  in the Anchorage Daily News                                                               
about  pregnant  women using  marijuana.  The  article noted  the                                                               
cognitive changes in  infants' brains and THC  detected in breast                                                               
milk and the newborn. Education needs to begin even earlier.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Butler said use during pregnancy  is a concern. There is less                                                               
outcome data, but some are  concerning. Cannabinoid receptors are                                                               
present  very early  in  the developing  brain.  Much is  unknown                                                               
about exogenous  cannabinoids, such as  what would be  taken into                                                               
the bloodstream  either through smoking or  ingestion, that would                                                               
affect brain development. Some animal  data suggest that exposure                                                               
to exogenous  cannabinoids might  increase the  susceptibility to                                                               
the effects of alcohol exposure during fetal development.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:36:50 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:38:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON reconvened  the meeting and entertained  a motion to                                                               
move SB 128 out of committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:38:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  VON IMHOF  moved to  report SB  128 from  committee with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:38:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced that without  objection, SB 128  is moved                                                               
from the  Senate Health and  Social Services  Standing Committee,                                                               
with the  understanding that Legislative  Legal is  authorized to                                                               
make any necessary technical and/or conforming adjustments.