The administration of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan on Tuesday introduced a measure to the Assembly that would make extracting marijuana concentrates with flammable solvents, such as butane, illegal in Anchorage without permission from authorities.
The proposed ordinance amends municipal code to prevent "the extraction of (THC) or any cannabinoid by use of materials or methods deemed dangerous to public health and safety, unless otherwise permitted by law."
The measure would make this type of extraction a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
City officials who attended a Colorado conference, closed to media and the public, on legalized marijuana in January came back concerned about the dangers of people trying to "stovetop cook marijuana to distill it," said municipal attorney Dennis Wheeler.
Wheeler said the officials believe house fires or explosions could result.
"This is one of those issues we identified as an immediate public health and safety issue," he said.
Public comment on the proposal will be heard Feb. 17, Wheeler said.