Recreational marijuana is now legal in Alaska.
Anyone 21 years or older can now possess up to an ounce of marijuana, though smoking in public and buying and selling the drug remains illegal in the state. Alaskans can now also grow six marijuana plants, three of which can be flowering.
The ballot measure, which passed 53-47 in November in the Republican-leaning state, went into effect Tuesday, making it the third state — alongside Colorado and Washington — where recreational pot is legal.
“Alaska now has some of the most sensible marijuana laws in the nation,” Dr. Tim Hinterberger, chair of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Gov. Bill Walker filed legislation Monday to handle the regulation and licensing of marijuana retailers, Alaska Public Media reported. Walker has so far already included $1.5 million in his budget for the cost of regulating marijuana in the state.
An October study by the Marijuana Policy Group found that regulation of marijuana in Alaska could bring in more than $8.5 million in the first year of sales and more than $72.5 million in the within five years.
Police are readily preparing how they will enforce the law and letting the public know about it.
“Ultimately the concern of the police department is the safety and health of our public,” Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said. “We want to make sure that people are not operating their vehicle impaired or under the influence of marijuana.”
