'Disappointed tourists' must wait, says Alaska marijuana advocate

An Alaska marijuana advocate says the state is making progress towards legalization, even if it's not fast enough for some Canadian tourists.

"Weekly, I hear from tourists who come up and are confusedbecause they couldn't find the open shops yet," saysLeif Abel, whochairs theAlaska Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation.

He says there have been delays in the law, but he accepts it's a complicated project.

This week, the latest version of thestate's draft rules were sent for public consultation.

Thestate has alreadyannounced marijuana will be taxed at $50 an ounce, with revenues going towards drug rehabilitation programs, halfway housesand programs to reduce and help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

First legal harvest could be this fall

Abel is planning tobecome a marijuana farmer inKasilof, Alaska.Hesays entrepreneurs like himself have beenwaiting for permission, butthe state has been missing its deadlines.

"By May 24we were supposed to have our licenses issued for at least the cultivation," he said.

Still, Abel and his family are celebrating a milestone this weekAlaska's Marijuana Control Boardgranted his companyGreatlandGanja"active status," which is rare.

'Iwouldsay by mid-October, your tourists and our locals in Alaska can expect to see some open shops where you can go purchase cannabis."- Leif Abel, marijuana farmer and advocate

The state has1,321 similarapplications in progress and only four have been given thatlevel of approval so far. Abelsays the designation is significantenough to justify investing in construction of an indoor growing factory.

Abelsays Alaska's first legalharvest could be this fall, as growers and retailers start to be approved by the state.

"Iwould say by mid-October, your tourists and our locals in Alaska can expect to see some open shops where you can go purchase cannabis."

Alaska is the only state in the U.S. considering marijuana bars or cafs, which will sell and allow consumption of marijuana on site.

No tolerance at the border

Abel has some advice, though, for any Canadian pot tourists planning trips: remember that Alaska's legalization referendum has changed nothing at the border.

Marijuana is still illegal in Canada, and border guards are enforcing the lawdespite the federal government's pledge to introduce legalization legislation by next year.

"I wouldsay to all the consumers and all the tourists: treat it like nothing has changed," Abel said.

"Until we're giving notice otherwise, don't try and cross the border with cannabis, please. Let's not make this any harder on our officials than we have to."