Alaska marijuana business owners will be subject to national background checks if a bill that passed the Senate on Friday morning is signed into law.
Senate Bill 165 deals mainly with Alaska's alcohol regulations, including a provision to greatly reduce minor consumption penalties. The bill passed the Senate during the fifth day of overtime for the Legislature and now heads to Gov. Bill Walker's desk for his signature.
A provision in the bill authorizes the Marijuana Control Board to conduct national background checks on business applicants, a key component for the entity tasked with approving the first licenses for Alaska's fledgling legal cannabis industry.
"We're glad it passed and are very appreciative of everybody that was involved," said Marijuana Control Board chair Bruce Schulte.
Potential marijuana businesses have gotten letters saying their applications will remain incomplete until a background check can be conducted -- although a marijuana attorney called the issue a "red herring" that shouldn't have stalled applications.
If the bill is signed into law, applicants will submit fingerprints for a national background check through the FBI.
When asked whether Walker is expected to sign the bill, spokeswoman Grace Jang wrote that the Department of Law needs to review the legislation first.
Meanwhile, the House bill with identical language – HB75 -- remains locked in a conference committee.
The House and Senate have been unable to agree on differing versions of the bill, including a controversial measure to ban marijuana sales in the unorganized borough. The bill has been in conference committee since April 6 and recent hearings have been canceled.