After a heated debate, the Fairbanks City Council approved an ordinance Monday that added regulations to the marijuana industry. The amended ordinance maintains the city’s ban on on-site consumption of cannabis. But it would allow more than twice as many retail shops as the original ordinance introduced by Mayor Jim Matherly.
The council chambers were once again packed with partisans for and against the marijuana-regulating ordinance introduced by Mayor Jim Matherly three months ago. But this time, it was the councilmembers’ turn to talk as they debated a flurry of amendments to the ordinance, starting with a provision limiting the number of retail shops in the city to 12.
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Matherly says he chose that number because that’s how many of the shops were operating or about to open.
“Nine were open, three were in the queue—that’s where I originally started with the 12 to get it on the table for discussion,” Matherly said.
Top Image: © Jesse Kunerth | Adobe Stock
