Bill > HB91

This bill makes several changes to Alaska's marijuana laws, primarily focusing on retail marijuana stores, cultivation facilities, and taxation. The bill changes marijuana establishment registrations from annual to biennial (two-year) periods, reduces the excise tax on marijuana from $50 to $12.50 per ounce, and introduces a new 6% sales tax on marijuana sold to consumers. It expands the definition of retail marijuana stores to allow them to sell to other marijuana businesses in addition to consumers. The bill modifies fingerprint and background check requirements for marijuana establishment registrations, now requiring them every six years instead of five. It also updates inventory tracking requirements for cultivation facilities, mandating tracking numbers for crops when plants exceed eight inches in height, without requiring individual tracking for each plant. Additionally, the bill creates new provisions for how tax revenues from marijuana sales will be allocated, including establishing a public education fund and mandating that at least 50% of the marijuana education and treatment fund be used for youth services grant programs. The Department of Revenue will be required to establish collection facilities in each judicial district for marijuana store tax payments. Most provisions of the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, with some sections specifically taking effect on January 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB91