Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/13/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB234 | |
| SB146 | |
| SB219 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 146 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 219 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 234-EXTEND MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD
1:33:26 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
234, "An Act relating to the Marijuana Control Board; and
providing for an effective date."
1:33:51 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that SB 234 proposes to
extend the Marijuana Control Board (MCB) by three years. He
reminded the committee that concerns put forth by the Division
of Legislative Audit were discussed at a previous hearing and
added that representatives from Legislative Audit, the Alaska
Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) and MCB were
available for questions.
1:34:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted that, in response to questions at the
previous hearing, Director Wilson would be discussing the issue
of board vacancies.
1:35:10 PM
JOAN WILSON, Director, Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control
Office (AMCO), Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, said that she would be
discussing vacancies for the public health seat and the rules
seat and shared her understanding that the other positions are
fully staffed. She explained that the public health seat was
vacant between February 28, 2021, and August 19, 2021. The rules
seat was vacant from May 2021 until January 2022.
1:36:23 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 234.
1:36:52 PM
BAILEY STUART, Owner, Stuart Consulting, Palmer, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 234. She gave a brief background on
her experience in the cannabis industry. She stated that her
work in the industry allows her to understand the regulatory
work that needs to be done. She noted that there is a new state
licensing system under development that would streamline license
applications and renewals. She pointed out that this is
currently done with paper and excel spreadsheets and added that
it will take time to implement the new system. She stated her
support for extending MCB. The three-year extension would put
MCB in line with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC)
which would further streamline the work done by the Department
of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED). She
emphasized that, should MCB sunset, the AMCO office would no
longer be authorized to operate the marijuana licensing program.
She acknowledged that more work needs to be done in the area of
licensing and pointed out concerns that arose when marijuana was
first legalized ten years ago. While unfounded, these concerns
resulted in overregulation of the industry - which MCB has been
working to remedy. She briefly discussed hemp and its
relationship to marijuana and expressed concerns about the sale
of intoxicating hemp products and emphasized the need for
regulation. She noted that there are also issues related to the
import of products and underscored the importance of MCB in
addressing these issues.
1:40:34 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 234.
1:40:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:40:49 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SB 234, work order 33-
LS1358\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:41:10 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SB 234 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.