Photo by DJ Summers/Alaska Journal of Commerce Cannabis clones sit on a rack in Greatland Ganja's Kasilof farm. After growing to the required size, the plants will be moved from the indoor grow room to an outdoor greenhouse. Each carries a tag that registers the plant's type and the overall quantity of plants in the facility.

Photo by DJ Summers/Alaska Journal of Commerce Cannabis clones sit on a rack in Greatland Ganja's Kasilof farm. After growing to the required size, the plants will be moved from the indoor grow room to an outdoor greenhouse. Each carries a tag that registers the plant's type and the overall quantity of plants in the facility.

Commercial marijuana ban voter initiative validated

A citizen petition to ask voters whether commercial marijuana operations should be banned in the Kenai Peninsula Borough outside the cities has received sufficient signatures to be valid.

The petition, originally submitted on July 26, needed 898 signatures. The petitioners originally submitted more signatures than that, but the borough clerk’s office was only able to verify 836. Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship notified the petitioners on Aug. 5 that the petition had insufficient signatures and couldn’t make it onto the Oct. 6 regular election ballot.

The petitioners then had 10 additional days to submit supplementary signatures, which they did. On Aug. 15, the clerk’s office received an additional seven booklets with 170 additional signatures. At least 62 of them were valid, making the petition viable, Blankenship wrote in a letter to the petitioners Aug. 23.

Alaska statute and borough code allow the borough assembly to hold a special election for the initiative if the assembly chooses to do so. Blankenship said she intended to distribute a memo to the assembly at its Tuesday meeting explaining the options.

“There hasn’t been any action taken yet,” she said. “I will be distributing it tonight in a memo, presenting their options.”

If the assembly did decide to hold a special election, it would have to be done by ordinance, which provides for public hearing at the assembly. Blankenship said her cost projections for a special election would run the borough about $60,000, whether it is conducted by mail or by voting stations. She said that because it is not an area-wide question, and some precincts are both inside and outside municipal jurisdictions, she planned to recommend the election be conducted by mailed-out ballot.

 

Reach Elizabeth Earl at elizabeth.earl@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

A young girl digs for razor clams at the Ninilchik Beach in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, July 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
East Cook Inlet clamming to remain closed for 2025

The causes of these conditions remain unknown but likely include effects from habitat changes and predation, officials said.

Graduates process into the 55th Annual Kenai Peninsula College Commencement Ceremony, held at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘The kinds of leaders Alaska and the world needs’

KPC graduates congratulated as they head into the next chapter of their lives.

Homer Electric Association General Manager Brad Janorschke speaks at the utility’s annual meeting of the members at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA manager talks natural gas, hazard trees, rates at annual meeting

Natural gas remains the “backbone” of the utility’s energy production.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy orders freeze on state employee hiring, travel and new regulations due to fiscal crunch

Exemptions allowed for certain occupations and “mission-critical” purposes.

Students stock rainbow trout into Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration, hosted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game near Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Celebrating the cycle of life

The annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration caps off the Salmon in the Classroom program.

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law
Homer woman sentenced for 2020 murder

Sarah Dayan was convicted in December for the murder of Keith Huss.

Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough mayor proposes mill rate decrease in $180M draft budget

The budget also follows his “balanced budget philosophy” of spending increases at or below around 2.5% year-over-year.

Kenaitze Indian Tribe chemical dependency councilor Jamie Ball performs during a candlelight vigil marking National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls at the Raven Plaza, Ggugguyni T’uh, in front of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Vigil recognizes missing and murdered Indigenous women on national awareness day

Alaska Native women are overrepresented in the populations of domestic violence and rape victims in the state.

Most Read