Politics

2014 ballot measures certified: Countdown to marijuana legalization begins

Three ballot measures adopted by Alaska voters this month were certified Wednesday afternoon by Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, the Alaska Division of Elections announced in a short press release.

"The election is a wrap," elections director Gail Fenumiai said after the announcement.

The certification begins the 90-day countdown to the enactment of three ballot measures passed by Alaska voters on Nov. 4: Ballot Measure 2, which legalizes recreational marijuana; Ballot Measure 3, with increases Alaska's minimum wage; and Ballot Measure 4, which enables the Legislature to prohibit some large-scale mining projects in the Bristol Bay watershed.

The ballot measures go into effect Feb. 24.

That means recreational marijuana use will be legalized on that day, and the minimum wage in Alaska will increase from $7.75 per hour to $8.75 per hour.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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