However, expect new ordnance’s that will dictate events on private property, of certain size (like Woodstock or even this event), viewable from public property (a roadway) would be prohibited to treat as private... especially if there is some sort of cover charge to enter. Not sure if the USSC would uphold such a local law... I’d rule in the property owners favor If I was Chief Justice Gandisland.

State law and industry regulations prohibit public consumption of marijuana.

What happened to the pro-marijuana argument, "Why can't I smoke pot in the privacy of my own home"?

Well, this is what happened. We all knew that it wouldn't stay "in the privacy of your own home". So we wrote a law saying you can't smoke in public.

But you did anyways, didn't you? Now you're pissing and moaning about THAT. You have to wonder what's next.

It was on private property - not "in public"

Alaska law, Sec. 17.38.040.

Public consumption banned, penalty.
It is unlawful to consume marijuana in public. A person who violates this section is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of up to $100.

The law does not say it is unlawful to consume marijuana on public land. It says "in public". Meaning it's only legal in private.

Which is exactly what the marijuana advocates wanted. Right? Right?

Meaning it's only legal in private.

What part of "...held on private property" is so difficult for you to understand?

What part of "...held on private property" is so difficult for you to understand?

What part of "it's illegal to smoke in public" don't YOU understand? The law says nothing about the nature of the property.

Alaska Hempfest was held on private property and featured live music, vendors and speakers. An enclosed tent was offered to attendees older than 21 who wanted to consume marijuana, Friedrich said.

State law and industry regulations prohibit public consumption of marijuana.

The Alaska Hempfest appears to have been a public event, regardless of whether it was held at a privately owned venue. "A public place is generally an indoor or outdoor area, whether privately or publicly owned, to which the public have access by right or by invitation, expressed or implied, whether by payment of money or not...."

"Alaska marijuana regulators have fined the operator of a pot competition, the Alaska Cannabis Classic, saying the event illegally sold marijuana and promoted public consumption."

Encouraging public pot consumption at a public event violated state law and industry regulations.

Saying they were selling a judging kit for $350, which kit contained a t-shirt and event tickets, as well as an ounce of marijuana flower and concentrates, and denying they were selling the marijuana does not pass the giggle test.

https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2018/06/15/alaska-marijuana-board-fines-cannabis-competition-for-illegal-sales/

Alaska marijuana board fines cannabis competition for illegal sales

Author: Laurel Andrews
Anchorage Daily News
Updated: June 15 calendar Published June 15

Alaska marijuana regulators have fined the operator of a pot competition, the Alaska Cannabis Classic, saying the event illegally sold marijuana and promoted public consumption.

The Cannabis Classic, which took place May 19 in Anchorage, was fined $20,000, with $15,000 suspended. That means the operator will have to pay only $5,000 so long as the event does not violate Alaska law going forward, Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board director Erika McConnell said in an email.

McConnell had asked the board to levy a fine of $10,000 for each of two violations: Selling marijuana without a license in the form of $350 marijuana judging kits; and "allowing and encouraging" public consumption of cannabis.

The Cannabis Classic is run by husband and wife Cory and Kendra Wray, who organize similar events across west coast states.

As part of the event, "judgeships" are sold for $350, McConnell wrote to the board. People who want to judge marijuana submitted for the competition pay the fee and are given a kit that includes a ounce of marijuana flower and concentrates.

"Essentially, the Wrays are selling marijuana to individuals through their website," McConnell's memo says.

Wray said Friday that the event does not sell marijuana, but instead offers an educational course, which he said was an extension of his mission of cannabis education.

To receive the kit, a potential judge takes a class, Wray said. If they pass the exam, "Then they're given the cannabis for free to apply their skills," he said, along with t-shirts and tickets to the event.

"They're purchasing an experience and education," Wray said.

In Alaska, it's legal to give away up to an ounce of marijuana.

In terms of the second violation, Wray said that all people at the event were given a program which outlined the state's public consumption law. In Alaska, anyone who is found publicly smoking marijuana can be fined up to $100, which is a civil citation, akin to a traffic ticket.

"If people were consuming … they should be the ones that are liable for that," Wray said.

Starting in 2015, May's event was the fourth time the Cannabis Classic has been held in Alaska. The competition used to be held at Anchorage's Dena'ina Center, and in 2016, the event organizers and building organizers got into a conflict about free samples, ADN reported at the time.

This year, the event was held downtown, in the same building that housed the now-defunct Pot Luck club, a marijuana social club that the state said was illegal, and which was shut down in April of last year.

Robinson Garcia owns the building, and McConnell recommended to the board that he also be fined for knowingly allowing public consumption of marijuana on his property.

The board voted against any fines for Garcia, McConnell said in an email Friday.

Wray said that the Cannabis Classic was planning to return to Alaska next year.

"We just want to better understand the rules so that we can comply and add value to the industry," Wray said.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was born in Bethel and grew up in Fairbanks. She covers breaking news, general assignments and the Alaska cannabis industry. Reach her at laurel@adn.com or 907-257-4382.

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https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/9/pub/MCB/StatutesAndRegulations/AS17.38.pdf

Chapter 17.38 THE REGULATION OF MARIJUANA

Sec. 17.38.040.

Public consumption banned, penalty.

It is unlawful to consume marijuana in public. A person who violates this section is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of up to $100.

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Sec. 17.38.020. Personal use of marijuana.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following acts, by persons 21 years of age or older, are lawful and are not criminal or civil offenses under Alaska law or the law of any political subdivision of Alaska or bases for seizure or forfeiture of assets under Alaska law:

(1) possessing, using, displaying, purchasing, or transporting marijuana accessories or one ounce or less of marijuana;

(2) possessing, growing, processing, or transporting not more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants, and possession of the marijuana produced by the plants on the premises where the plants were grown, except that not more than 12 marijuana plants, with six or fewer being mature, flowering plants, may be present in a single dwelling regardless of the number of persons 21 years of age or older residing in the dwelling;

(3) transferring one ounce or less of marijuana and up to six immature marijuana plants to a person who is 21 years of age or older without remuneration;

(4) consumption of marijuana, except that nothing in this chapter permits the consumption of marijuana in public; and

(5) assisting, aiding, or supporting another person who is 21 years of age or older in any of the acts described in (1) - (4) of this section.

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https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/9/pub/MCB/StatutesAndRegulations/MarijuanaRegulations.pdf

3 AAC 306
REGULATIONS FOR THE MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD
Updated 7/09/2018

3 AAC 306.305. Retail marijuana store privileges

(a) A licensed retail marijuana store is authorized to

(1) sell marijuana purchased from a licensed marijuana cultivation facility, packaged and labeled as required under 3 AAC 306.345, 3 AAC 306.470, and 3 AAC 306.475 in an amount not exceeding the limit set out in 3 AAC 306.355, to an individual on the licensed premises for consumption off the licensed premises;

(2) sell a marijuana product purchased from a licensed marijuana product manufacturing facility, packaged and labeled as required under 3 AAC 306.345, 3 AAC 306.565, and 3 AAC 306.570, in a quantity not exceeding the limit set out in 3 AAC 306.355, to an individual on the licensed premises for consumption off the licensed premises;

(3) store marijuana and marijuana products on the licensed premises in a manner consistent with 3 AAC 306.710 - 3 AAC 306.720;

(4) with prior approval of the board, permit consumption of marijuana or a marijuana product purchased on the licensed premises, in a designated area on the licensed premises.

(b) This section does not prohibit a licensed retail marijuana store from refusing to sell marijuana or a marijuana product to a consumer.

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https://definitions.uslegal.com/p/public-event/

Public Event Law and Legal Definition

A public event, as the name suggests, could refer to any event open for the general public. Exhibitions, expositions, fairs, festivals, entertainment, cause-related, fundraising, and leisure events are all examples of a public event. Any event that is a one-time or periodic, free or ticketed, cultural, charitable or cause-related, and conducted for the purpose of attracting revenue, support, awareness, and/or for entertainment purposes, and created by and/or for the general public is generally referred to as a public event.

In Home Builders Ass'n v. L & L Exhibition Mgmt., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23525 (E.D. Mo. Aug. 13, 1999), the court held that a public event is one where people can go see a wide variety of individuals and firms selling goods and services.

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https://definitions.uslegal.com/p/public-place/

Public Place Law and Legal Definition

A public place is generally an indoor or outdoor area, whether privately or publicly owned, to which the public have access by right or by invitation, expressed or implied, whether by payment of money or not, but not a place when used exclusively by one or more individuals for a private gathering or other personal purpose. The following is an example of a state law defining public places for smoking laws:

"Public place" means any enclosed indoor area used by the general public or serving as a place of work containing two hundred fifty or more square feet of floor space, including, but not limited to, all restaurants with a seating capacity greater than fifty, all retail stores, lobbies and malls, offices, including waiting rooms, and other commercial establishments; public conveyances with departures, travel, and destination entirely within this state; educational facilities; hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care and medical facilities; and auditoriums, elevators, theaters, libraries, art museums, concert halls, indoor arenas, and meeting rooms. "Public place" does not include a retail store at which fifty percent or more of the sales result from the sale of tobacco or tobacco products, the portion of a retail store where tobacco or tobacco products are sold, a private, enclosed office occupied exclusively by smokers even though the office may be visited by nonsmokers, a room used primarily as the residence of students or other persons at an educational facility, a sleeping room in a motel or hotel, or each resident's room in a health care facility. The person in custody or control of the facility shall provide a sufficient number of rooms in which smoking is not permitted to accommodate all persons who desire such rooms.

"If people were consuming … they should be the ones that are liable for that," Wray said.

Uh-huh. And who provided the enclosed tent for "consuming"?

The Alaska Hempfest appears to have been a public event, regardless of whether it was held at a privately owned venue. "A public place is generally an indoor or outdoor area,

My definition of private and public differ. I feel any property bought by other than a government entity and maintained financially with non tax funds... is private property. Anything bought, owned or subsidized by tax collected funds, is public property.

So, I’m not a huge fan of arresting a property owner for PUBLIC weed smoking, while on their own property... by twisting the definition of private and public. If the state is going to do that, then why make something legal only on private property?

My definition of private and public differ. I feel any property bought by other than a government entity and maintained financially with non tax funds... is private property.

You are conflating a private venue with a private event. A public event can be held on private property. Open the event to the public and it is a public event, whether it is held in a public or private venue.

So, I’m not a huge fan of arresting a property owner for PUBLIC weed smoking, while on their own property... by twisting the definition of private and public.

Where did you read somebody got arrrested or any action was taken against the owner of the building?

Robinson Garcia owns the building. The Board voted against any fine for Garcia.

Nordica Friedrich hosted the event with her mother, Niki Raapana, of Fairbanks. She was not the one fined.

Cory and Kendra Wray ran The Cannibis Classic, a marijuana competition at the Alaska venue, and organize similar events across the western states. They were fined for illegal sales of marijuana, and allowing and encouraging public consumption of marijuana.

Where did you read somebody got arrrested or any action was taken against the owner of the building?

The article... “Organizers of an Alaska cannabis festival who allowed adult participants to consume pot in public are facing an investigation and possible fine”

Now, I realize Dicktards articles are poorly written, drama filled, agenda oriented, bias, slanted and YELLA... but my take on the incident was a state with legal pot use on private property... a person hosting a large event on private property, and event goers might get fined for being potheads on private property because the event is seen as a public event on private property?

Is the article different?

Saying they were selling a judging kit for $350, which kit contained a t-shirt and event tickets, as well as an ounce of marijuana flower and concentrates, and denying they were selling the marijuana does not pass the giggle test.

They were selling a "judging kit", not marijuana. See?

Also, they were not smoking marijuana. They were "consuming" it.

And they're not smoking it to get high. They're smoking it to relax.

And when they drive home high as a kite, they're actually safer drivers because shut up.

So, I’m not a huge fan of arresting a property owner for PUBLIC weed smoking, while on their own property

Can he run around naked on his property?

Although it's private property, it's public behavior. The marijuana law was written to prohibit the behavior, no matter where. It says "no smoking in public", not "no smoking on public land".

No word yet if Sarah Palin was in attendance - the festival was in her home town and we all know that she has toked up in the past.

Sarah Palin admits having tried cannabis and isn’t too worried about it

I was wondering when Palin's name was going to be mentioned/exploited. You didn't disappoint.

I was wondering when Palin's name was going to be mentioned/exploited.

She must have been out of town that day.

Big difference between showing nudity and someone getting high. Little kids can watch folk getting high on afternoon TV.

They were selling a "judging kit", not marijuana. See?

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To receive the kit, a potential judge takes a class, Wray said. If they pass the exam, "Then they're given the cannabis for free to apply their skills," he said, along with t-shirts and tickets to the event.

"They're purchasing an experience and education," Wray said.

In Alaska, it's legal to give away up to an ounce of marijuana.

Do you think anyone ever was told they failed the exam and would not be getting the "free" marijuana to apply their skills?

The article... “Organizers of an Alaska cannabis festival who allowed adult participants to consume pot in public are facing an investigation and possible fine”

It wasn't the cops investigating and fining. Some members of the Alaska Marijuana Control Board attended the event, recorded the activity, reported the activity to the Board, and the Board voted to fine the gentleman who expressed his innocence:

To receive the kit, a potential judge takes a class, Wray said. If they pass the exam, "Then they're given the cannabis for free to apply their skills," he said, along with t-shirts and tickets to the event.

"They're purchasing an experience and education," Wray said.

It seems the Board found his explanation unpersuasive. Unless it was not a sale at all, it was an illegal sale not at an authorized sale location.

Do you think anyone ever was told they failed the exam and would not be getting the "free" marijuana to apply their skills?

After paying $350? You're funny.