Editor's Note: This is in contrast to Portland's (Oregon) policies in the face of the new law, which will take effect in July 2015–Portland will no longer prosecute most marijuana cases (and will drop those pending) considering recreational marijuana use, possession, sale and purchase will soon be legal.
FAIRBANKS – One of the Alaska’s top prosecutors said the state will continue to prosecute people for possessing and selling marijuana for the time being, despite a pending voter-approved law to legalize small amounts of pot.
“We are not blind or oblivious to the fact that there is a change coming, but the change is not here yet,” said John Skidmore, director of the criminal division for the Alaska Department of Law.
“We did communicate to our folks that right now it is business as usual,” he said. “We are evaluating what to do in the future.”
The law is changing after voters approved a ballot measure this month allowing people to possess, transport, sell and grow certain amounts of marijuana.
