Wasilla council snuffs out marijuana businesses

WASILLA — The Wasilla City Council voted unanimously Monday night to ban commercial marijuana businesses within the largest city in the Mat-Su Valley.

The issue again drew a large crowd to city hall. City clerk Jamie Newman said the council heard testimony from 69 people, with about two-thirds testifying against the ban.

“We didn’t adjourn until 11:37,” Newman said.

When the resolution banning commercial sales was first introduced on Jan. 11, about 20 people testified against it and none stood in favor. On Monday, Newman said approximately 43 people spoke against the ban while 26 supported it.

The council’s vote, however, was 5-0 in favor, with Colleen Sullivan-Leonard absent.

The ban means Wasilla joins Palmer by making it illegal to grow or sell marijuana inside city limits, and anyone hoping to open a marijuana store in Wasilla must look elsewhere.

“Retail sales are prohibited,” Newman said.

Alaska voters legalized commercial marijuana by passing a statewide ballot measure in 2014. Polls showed Wasilla voters were narrowly divided on the measure, with 52 percent voting against legalization and 48 percent voting in favor of legalization.

In another vote held last year, voters in Houston voted to allow legal marijuana, while Palmer voters outlawed pot businesses.

In addition to banning marijuana businesses — including pot farms, retails stores and marijuana clubs — the Wasilla resolution sets a fine schedule for those caught trying to grow or sell marijuana for commercial use. Under the new rules, anyone manufacturing or transporting marijuana for sale will be subject to a fine of $750 per offense, while anyone caught operating a retail store will be fined $1,000 per violation. Anyone caught using marijuana in public is subject to a $100 fine. The resolution also says marijuana may be consumed only on private residential property with the owner’s consent and its use may not disturb residents or neighboring properties.

“Any use disturbing other residents or neighbors must cease immediately,” according to the resolution.

The resolution went into effect immediately.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the number of people estimated to have spoken in favor and against the ban.