Alaska Governor Names 5 to Marijuana Control Board

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Five Alaskans were appointed to a board that will craft laws governing the state’s recreational marijuana industry.

Gov. Bill Walker named a police chief, a former director of Alaska’s Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, a city council member and two representatives from the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation to the state’s new Marijuana Control Board, according to the Alaska Dispatch News.

The group of five, selected from a pool of 132 applicants, represent the public safety sector, the public health sector, rural Alaska and the marijuana industry. The governor had the option of appointing a member to represent the public, but instead chose two industry representatives.

Members also must be confirmed by the Alaska Legislature, according to the law.

The group will operate under and share resources with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and has until Nov. 24 to write regulations, the ADN reported.

The Marijuana Control Board was formed after Walker in February asked lawmakers to set up a group to oversee the recreational cannabis industry. The governor in May signed a bill into law officially creating the board.

Alaska officials also said tax revenues in the first year of marijuana sales will total $5.1 million to $9.2 million, the ADN reported.