Alaska delays on pot use in marijuana stores

JUNEAU, Alaska – Alaska marijuana regulators have delayed by at least another month a decision on allowing people to buy marijuana products to smoke, inhale or consume in food in authorized stores.

The Marijuana Control Board has wrestling with the issue since last year. But board member Loren Jones said Wednesday that he wanted more time to consider it.

The matter was tabled until next month’s meeting, over the objections of the board’s two industry members.

The board is in uncharted territory. The three other states that have legalized recreational marijuana ban its public use, including in pot stores.

Alaska bans public use, too, but regulators created an exception for authorized stores. The idea was to provide a place for tourists and others to partake. But they have yet to finalize rules for what those smoking and use areas might look like.