The Anchorage Assembly voted on Tuesday to approve the Arctic Herbery — a cannabis cultivation and retailer enterprise proposed by entrepreneur Bryant Thorp — as the city’s first licensed, retail marijuana shop. Thorp was issued his cultivation license by the city back in July, and has already received state approval for both aspects of his operation.
According to a report by Alaska Dispatch News, no members of the public showed up to testify against Thorp’s retail shop, and the Assembly voted unanimously to approve the licensing without prior discussion among Assembly members.
“I’m shocked. That was easy,” said Thorp, who now estimates his opening date will be “around the first of November-ish.”
Several conditions were attached to the licensing, however: the store must be closed between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m., and any cannabis odors must be contained at the property line.
With a cultivation and retail license in hand, the final obstacle blocking the Arctic Herbery’s launch — besides a few minor building upgrades that Thorp says are still needed — is for cannabis testing labs in the state to be fully operational, as every batch of recreational cannabis must be tested for consumer safety before it can be sold.
“I just wanted to note that with breathtaking speed we blew by the first approval of a retail marijuana establishment in Anchorage,” said Assemblyman John Weddleton, chairman of Anchorage’s land use committee that oversees cannabis applications. “We haven’t made it easy on everyone but I wish him luck, I hope they do a great job.”
“Go forth and do good,” Assemblyman Tim Steele told Thorp.