Borough Mayor Asks for Advisory Vote on Commercial Marijuana

On Tuesday, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly is scheduled to hear two resolutions offered by Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss regarding marijuana in the borough.

The first resolution asks the Assembly to approve seventeen alternate seats to the Mat-Su Borough Marijuana Advisory Committee.  The Assembly approved the creation of the committee earlier this year, and will vote on Mayor Devilbiss’ nominations for that board next week.  In comments at the last Borough Assembly meeting, the mayor said that response was so strong that he was contemplating asking for the alternate seats to be created.

The other resolution to be offered regarding marijuana would call for an advisory vote during the borough’s October elections.  If Mayor DeVilbiss’ request is approved, the ballot would ask Mat-Su voters outside of the incorporated cities whether the borough should prohibit the operation of marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and retail facilities in the unincorporated areas of the Mat-Su.

In his reasoning for the request, Mayor DeVilbiss says the ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana allows local governments to make some decisions regarding commercial activities involving the substance.  He also says that, overall, the unincorporated areas of the borough voted against legalization last November.  Both statements are accurate.  The unincorporated Mat-Su precincts in the Lower Valley nearly all voted against Proposition 2.  From Meadow Lakes north, the votes were slightly in favor of legalization of marijuana.

Since the two requests are in the form of resolutions, they are not subject to the same requirement for public hearing and advance notice that ordinances are.