The future of the pot business in AK

This week on Alaska Edition, we are discussing the pot industry in the state. Since Alaska voters passed a state ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in 2014, the state has been wrestling with just how to regulate the substance. Just as Alaska’s Marijuana Control board is ready to roll out licenses for retail shops and grow operations, competing Senate and House bills could make changes in the process. On this week’s program we learn about this bill, and hear from Houston’s mayor, Virgie Thompson, about that city’s plan to stay out of the red by becoming a cannabis retail magnet.

Listen Now:

HOST: Ellen Lockyer

GUESTS:

  • Sara Williams, Chair, Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly’s Marijuana Advisory Committee
  • Tim Hinterberger, University of Alaska Anchorage Professor
  • Erika McConnell, Planner, Municipality of Anchorage

KSKA (FM 91.1) BROADCAST: Friday, April 1, at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m.

Alaska Public Television BROADCAST: Friday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m.

Kaysie Ellingson got her start as a video producer while attending the University of Southern California for her Master’s Degree in journalism. What started out as a pursuit to become an international reporter for papers became a desire to produce documentaries.While at USC she took on many video projects ranging from various freelancing gigs to starting a web series, ClefCity, where viewers could catch interviews with popular (not mainstream) musicians. But it was her work at IMPACT, the university’s video newsmagazine, that had the heaviest hand in propelling her into video production. She graduated in May 2014 and having never been to Alaska, moved up in the winter of 2015 to work at Alaska Public Media as a video producer.One random bit of information is that prior to graduate school Ellingson worked as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Kazakhstan. Some of her fondest memories involve drinking fermented horse milk, testing out how many people can actually fit into a car and of course entertaining her students with her horrible Kazakh speaking skills. She hopes to return someday soon. In the meantime she is enjoying the similar climate of Alaska.Kellingson (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8419 | About Kaysie

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