Marijuana Control Board Meeting

The Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) Director, Kevin Richard, provided a report to the Marijuana Control Board (MCB) for their June 25-26, 2025, meeting. The report outlines the impact of Governor-issued Administrative Order 358, which implemented travel restrictions and a hiring freeze across state agencies. AMCO successfully secured hiring waivers for a Licensing Examiner 2 and a Special Investigator 1 position. Key administrative updates include the passage of SB 15, which became law on April 28, 2025, and ongoing efforts to reduce application backlogs through improved agency-side entry systems. The Director also addressed the potential for e-mail balloting, noting that legal risks currently outweigh the efficiency benefits, and recommended the board explore an online management system instead. The document includes a detailed review of the MCB's delegated authorities to the Director under AS 17.38.150. This includes specific guidance on which license applications, renewals, and operational changes the Director is authorized to approve versus those requiring full board review. The board was tasked with reviewing these delegations for potential amendment.