Referendum pits Fairbanks pot retailers against neighborhood groups [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

FAIRBANKS — Voters will decide the legality of marijuana sales in Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough on Oct. 3.

And, with municipal elections fast approaching, cannabis opponents and advocates are working to push voter turnout in their favor.

Alaska voters legalized commercial marijuana growing and retail statewide in 2014. Since then, Fairbanks has been viewed by many as one of Alaska’s more cannabis-friendly communities, with more than a dozen active growers in the area and more on the way. But last summer, campaigns launched by former City Councilwoman Vivian Stiver and another by Jim Ostlind, of Salcha, collected enough signatures to put referendums on city and borough ballots.

Since then, Ostlind has taken charge of the Safe Neighborhoods Fairbanks Political Action Committee.

Read more: http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/referendum-pits-pot-retailers-against-neighborhood-groups/article_04d57f84-8afe-11e7-ab50-3b495641120b.html