On 4/20, Alaska House passes bill on marijuana records, underage possession – Alaska Public Media

The Alaska Home of Representatives handed a invoice Wednesday to alter how the state seems at two elements of straightforward marijuana possession.

First, Home Invoice 246 would make previous data of marijuana possession unavailable to most people in searches of courtroom instances.

And second, going ahead, it could change the cost of marijuana possession for 18, 19 and 20 12 months olds from a misdemeanor crime to a violation, extra like a dashing ticket.

Alaska legalized leisure use of marijuana for these 21 and older in 2015.

The Home held a closing debate Wednesday — April 20 — earlier than voting on the invoice.

“I discover it poignant that at this time, being 4/20, and we’re discussing marijuana,” mentioned Rep. Ken McCarty, R-Eagle River, referring to marijuana slang.

The invoice’s supporters say previous convictions for one thing that’s now authorized shouldn’t be a barrier to alternatives like employment or housing.

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, D-Sitka, co-sponsored the invoice.

“To some extent, we’re kind of in an equal scenario, it’s like 1935, prohibition on alcohol ended seven years in the past,” Kreiss-Tomkins mentioned. “And to what extent as a society are we actually deeply involved about whether or not folks have been ingesting within the Nineteen Twenties?”

Those that may be involved are potential employers, mentioned Nikiski Republican Rep. Ben Carpenter, one of many invoice’s a number of opponents.

“I believe it’s essential for the general public to have the ability to inform whether or not it’s a dashing violation, or whether or not it’s a marijuana conviction, that anyone was or was not following the legislation previously. That issues to an employer,” Carpenter mentioned.

Kreiss-Tomkins mentioned the invoice would solely have an effect on essentially the most public-facing courtroom data, no more in-depth background checks some employers conduct.

After about an hour of debate, the Home handed the invoice by a vote of 30 to eight. It now goes to the state Senate.

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