Marijuana Alaska's Laws
Learn more about Alaska's marijuana laws
Legalizing Marijuana
On February 24, 2015, marijuana became legal in Alaska for adults 21 and older to use and possess for personal, non-medical reasons, following the approval of Ballot Measure 2. Since then, the state has created rules for both medical and retail marijuana, with a strong focus on protecting public health and safety
Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund
In 2018, the Alaska Legislature passed a law (Senate Bill 104) to create a Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund. This fund receives 25% of the marijuana tax collected and is used to support programs through the Divisions of Public Health and Behavioral Health that prevent marijuana use and provide education and treatment.
The Marijuana Education Program
The Marijuana Education Program works to prevent substance misuse by strengthening protective factors at the personal, family, and community levels. Building personal resilience helps people develop healthy coping skills. Family connectedness supports strong relationships, and community stability provides a safe and supportive environment. Together, these factors help protect youth from using marijuana.
The program also supports afterschool activities for students in grades 5–8 to help build these protective factors. It provides resources for schools to help at-risk students with behavioral health needs and partners with the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice to support youth involved in the justice system. To learn more about the partnership with the Positive Youth Development Afterschool Program, visit the Alaska Afterschool Network website.