The Fairbanks City Council has put off consideration of an ordinance that would outlaw marijuana clubs. 
Clubs which do not sell the drug, but provide a venue for paying members to consume it, have sprung up in Alaska since the passage of a statewide marijuana legalization initiative in 2014. The Fairbanks City Council is deferring to state legislators on the club issue.
Marijuana club ban ordinance sponsor, Fairbanks city council member David Pruhs made the decision to postpone it at a meeting Monday, saying its best to delay until after the state legislative session.
“I don’t think anyone here’s opposed to the business at all… but let’s have the state of Alaska address it.”
Fairbanks has only one marijuana club, “The Higher Calling.” Owner Marcus Mooers testified he believes clubs fall under the statewide voter-supported marijuana initiative.
“AS1738, voted by the people, provides a right for citizens 21 and over to possess and consume cannabis. There is a public consumption law, but our club is private and located on private property. Depriving us of the legal right to do business is depriving citizens their legal rights.”
Clubs are not covered in recently developed state Marijuana Control Board business licensing regulations, and the board and Department of Law consider clubs illegal. City Council member Jim Matherly voiced support for holding off on any local ban until state legislators weigh in.
“I don’t really have a desire to go closing people down at will, just because of this being open. I want to see what Juneau does.”
Matherly says a state legislator told him the marijuana club issue is expected to be considered during the first 60 days of the upcoming session. The city marijuana club ban ordinance was postponed until the council’s first meeting in June.
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
