(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska – Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell announced the certification of the citizen initiatives 13PSUM, “An Act to tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana”; and 13MINW, “An Act increasing the Alaska minimum wage to $8.75 per hour effective January 1, 2015, $9.75 per hour effective January 1, 2016, and thereafter adjusted annually for inflation.”

The Division of Elections completed its review of signatures of each initiative and determined they meet constitutional and statutory requirements for initiative petitions.

Treadwell notified the primary sponsor of 13PSUM, Timothy Hinterberger of Anchorage, the primary sponsor of 13MINW, Ed Flanagan of Juneau, as well as the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.

The lieutenant governor signed the certificates after consultation with the Division of Elections, which determined the signature booklets included a sufficient number of sponsor signatures, and the Department of Law, which concluded that the proposed bills are in the proper form under Article XI of the Alaska Constitution and AS 15.45.

Under Article XI, section 4 of the Alaska Constitution and AS 15.45.190, if the Alaska State Legislature does not enact ‘substantially similar’ legislation next session, the initiatives will appear on the ballot of the August 19, 2014 Primary Election, which is the next statewide general, special, or primary election that is held 120 days after a legislative session has convened and adjourned.

For all citizen initiatives to appear on the ballot, the lieutenant governor must conduct two public hearings in each of the four judicial districts at least 30 days before the election.

The bill proposed by 13PSUM would provide for the taxation and regulation of the production, sale, and use of marijuana. The bill provides for the personal use of marijuana and imposes various restrictions on personal cultivation, public use, and the operation of marijuana-related facilities. The bill also allows the legislature to create a Marijuana Control Board in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, provides for the adoption of regulations, and allows for local control of the manufacture and sale of marijuana. Finally, the bill imposes an excise tax on the sale or transfer of marijuana, and provides for the enforcement and administration of that tax.

The bill proposed by 13MINW would provide for an increase in Alaska’s minimum wage. Specifically, the bill would increase the Alaska minimum wage to $8.75 per hour effective January 1, 2015, $9.75 per hour effective January 1, 2016, and thereafter adjusted annually for inflation.

On the Web:

Final certification documents:

13PSUM
http://notice.alaska.gov/171435

13MINW:
http://notice.alaska.gov/171436

Source of News: 

Office of the Lt. Governor
www.ltgov.state.ak.us

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