Marijuana regulators in Alaska narrowly rejected a proposal Thursday that would have made the state the first in the nation to allow marijuana consumers to use the pot they buy at the retail stores selling it.

In a 3-2 vote, the Alaska Marijuana Control board decided not to allow it, frustrating industry officials and business owners who vowed to continue to press for some sort of allowable marijuana use at retail shops.

The proposed new rules would have let people buy marijuana products in authorized stores and go into separate store areas to partake.

Board member Mark Springer, who was among those who voted to reject the measure, suggested moving slowly on the issue, citing uncertainty with how President Donald Trump's administration might view marijuana.

Pot remains illegal at the federal level but recreational marijuana has been legalized in eight states and the District of Columbia.

"What are they going to do?" Carrigan said. "There's going to be 500 people standing on the docks, smoking a joint."

That's what cannabis entrepreneurs Sean Purvis and Ben Wilcox worry about, too. The campaign to legalize pot was based on the premise that it would be regulated like alcohol, they said.

Purvis has held off on applying for a license, while Wilcox held off on securing retail space in Juneau's pricey real estate market until he knew what the board would do on onsite use. He didn't want to unnecessarily pay for a bigger place.