Baked Alaska: First red state to legalize marijuana, third overall

On Feb. 24, 2015, Alaska became the third U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana and the first majority republican state to do so. Here’s what you need to know:

• Residents can now legally smoke marijuana in private; smoking in public remains prohibited
• Adults 21 and over can gift, transport and possess up to an ounce of pot, and maintain up to six marijuana plants
• Rules around commercial production and sales must be approved by Nov. 24, 2015, and Alaska’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (or Marijuana Control Board, if one is created) must begin accepting business licenses by Feb. 24, 2016
• Legal sales will begin sometime after Feb. 24, 2016

The media on marijuana

Dude, smoking dope is now legal in Alaska. This is totes a big deal http://t.co/5QLZpqBuzX pic.twitter.com/JWT2VWyoNG

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) February 25, 2015

Alaska becomes first red state to legalize marijuana, third overall http://t.co/iGnbCd6l9h pic.twitter.com/u1qqLeXCLc

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) February 24, 2015

Baked Alaska. What happens when a Republican-leaning administration oversees the legalisation of narcotics? http://t.co/QFeRc8H3am

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) February 24, 2015

Alaska just became the first red state to legalize marijuana: http://t.co/GwPY92tpSM pic.twitter.com/jvIhFMIfCk

— Vox (@voxdotcom) February 24, 2015

Smoking, growing and possessing marijuana becomes legal in America's wildest state: http://t.co/55uc21iMEj

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 24, 2015

On eve of pot legalization, bill introduced in #Alaska Legislature to establish Marijuana Control Board http://t.co/FR3uUu5RHS

— Alaska Dispatch News (@adndotcom) February 23, 2015

Photo: Shutterstock.com