In Alaska..US state becomes 3rd to legalize marijuana..Residents of Alaska can now smoke, grow and possess marijuana within the confines of the law.

A man smoking marijuana (File Photo)
(Good Pix)

The US state of Alaska has become the third to legalize the use of marijuana after a decision on Tuesday, February 24.

Residents of the state can now smoke, grow and possess marijuana within the confines of the law.

The choice was made following a voter initiative which did away with 40 years of conflicting laws and court rulings.

Stakeholders voted 53-47 percent in favour of legalization in November 2014 and left the job of fine-tuning to lawmakers and regulators.

However, some community leaders worry that legalizing the use of marijuana will worsen the already high rates of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and suicide.

"When they start depending on smoking marijuana, I don't know how far they'd go to get the funds they need to support it, to support themselves," Edward Nick, a council member in Manokotak, said.

Residents are however only allowed to indulge in private as smoking pot in public can attract a $100 fine.