Hopeful marijuana entrepreneurs were busy the first day they could start the business license process in Alaska.
State marijuana regulators report in a release that 68 applications were initiated online Wednesday. The Marijuana Control Board says it's not limited in the number of licenses it can issue and there's no deadline to apply. The board will review applications at regularly scheduled meetings year-round.
Officials anticipate beginning the review process in mid-March for applications submitted this week. Local governments will have an opportunity to protest.
The board plans to approve the first testing and cultivation facility licenses in June. Product manufacturing and retail store licenses will be processed next. The state anticipates the first manufacturing and retail store licenses to be approved in September.