Utqiaġvik residents at the moment are capable of buy marijuana edibles and different merchandise on metropolis property.
Utqiaġvik Metropolis Council voted this month to permit importing and promoting of marijuana merchandise inside the metropolis to advertise native companies, in accordance with the ordinance.
“I believe it’s good for our prospects to provide them extra choices,” Kalla Peacock, the proprietor of the Alaskan Grown Hashish, previously Buds Under Zero. “Utqiaġvik is the one location within the state that I do know of that didn’t enable the gross sales of edibles. We’ve got plenty of Elders and different prospects who don’t choose or can’t use hashish merchandise that you’d smoke historically so having another for them I consider is useful for everybody.”
Beforehand, the municipality allowed the sale of marijuana pre-rolls, seeds and flowers and taxed 8% of these gross sales, mentioned the Metropolis Mayor Asisaun Toovak. Residents have been allowed to develop their very own marijuana as nicely, she added. Nevertheless, town code prohibited the sale of hashish edibles, sweet, goodies and infused merchandise, she mentioned.
Toovak defined that town determined to make that distinction in 2018 as a result of residents anxious that marijuana merchandise that resemble sweet can be too simply accessible to youngsters.
In recent times, residents and a marijuana institution have been asking for a change in code, and town began contemplating the benefits and downsides of these rules, Toovak mentioned.
Throughout a city corridor assembly earlier this spring, resident and former meeting president Forrest Deano Olemaun spoke towards the brand new ordinance. He mentioned he has been opposing not solely marijuana merchandise however hashish total, except for medicinal use.
“They are saying they wish to do it to realize funds to advertise extra wholesome methods of residing,” he mentioned. “I query their rationale of making an attempt to legalize marijuana to do extra wholesome issues when, to start with, ‘you don’t allow it’ is the healthiest method to go.”
Whereas the native sale of marijuana merchandise was unlawful within the metropolis till Could 23, residents have been nonetheless buying them in Anchorage and bringing them dwelling, Toovak mentioned.
“The product is coming right here,” she mentioned. “Anchorage is getting that tax from our neighborhood members, … making them criminals, in the event that they’re shopping for it from Anchorage and so they’re bringing it right here when product is prohibited.”
The brand new ordinance will enable residents to securely buy these merchandise domestically, she mentioned.
The town officers additionally hope to get further earnings from the sale of marijuana merchandise to have the ability to make investments it in initiatives and providers for residents, she mentioned. Earlier than the change, the 8% tax on retail marijuana gross sales introduced round $280,000 to town from July 2023, she mentioned.
“We’ll profit by getting the tax on the edibles and never making criminals out of our neighborhood members which might be using it,” mentioned the Metropolis Mayor Asisaun Toovak.
As well as, the thought behind taxation is that it will probably additionally assist curb consumption, Toovak mentioned.
“If we proceed to tax extra into it, the hope is much less use,” she mentioned. “That’s the thought.”
The council selected Could 23 to amend the unique 2018 ordinance and permit the sale and import of marijuana merchandise. Manufacturing stays prohibited inside the metropolis, in accordance with the ordinance.
As a result of the motion solely concerned adjusting the present ordinance, town didn’t have to put the change to vote, Toovak defined.
The native hashish companies have been instantly capable of put marijuana merchandise into their shops, Toovak mentioned.
All marijuana merchandise need to be correctly labeled, clearly sealed and never exceed 10 milligrams per product.
Earlier this yr, the metropolis thought of permitting alcohol gross sales on metropolis premises, however the petition didn’t get sufficient signatures to maneuver ahead.
