Medical Marijuana Alaska Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska has always been about personal freedoms, and they first tried to legalize marijuana decades ago.  In 1975, Alaska became the second state in the country to decriminalize marijuana. The penalty for possession was just $100. It was recriminalized in 1998 and came with a $1,0000 fine for first-time offenders.

It took some time before true legalization came to fruition. Medical marijuana was made legal in the state in 1998.

Medical marijuana is helpful for a wide range of different sorts of health issues. Those who are suffering from chronic pain, cancer, epilepsy, and glaucoma, for example, may want to consider getting a medical marijuana card. This can allow them to buy high-quality weed from dispensaries. Of course, they could also learn to grow their own.

While medical marijuana was legalized more than two decades ago, it took until November of 2014 until the citizens voted for recreational marijuana. Yet, it still took until 2015 before it was legally on the books and until 2016 until recreational dispensaries opened.

Today, though, you are legally allowed to carry up to one ounce on your person at any time, as long as you are the right age. It is also legal to be gifted up to one ounce of marijuana.

Keep in mind the word gifted. This means that it must technically be given away and not bought or sold, as that would constitute the sale of a drug, which is something citizens can’t do. Only those who have the proper Alaska weed growing license are allowed to sell.

Just because you are allowed to have marijuana for recreational purposes doesn’t mean that it can be used just anywhere. Under the weed laws in Alaska, public consumption is not allowed. This means you can’t take the marijuana to a park, a playground, a restaurant, or any roadways.

Those who are caught smoking in a public location can be fined up to $100. If you are caught with marijuana in a national park, you could receive a federal citation. This is because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. Always be careful of where you go when you have marijuana on you whether it’s medical or recreational.

Medical marijuana has been a staple in Alaska since 1998. For more than 24 years now, people have been able to get comfort from the use of this drug to help with a host of health problems.

Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana cards in Alaska include:

• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Glaucoma
• HIV or AIDS
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Nausea
• Seizures

This list is not quite as long as what you will find in some other states. While this may have been a problem a decade or ago, since recreational laws were passed, it doesn’t matter nearly as much. Today, it is easier for people to get marijuana in Alaska through one of the recreational dispensaries. They could also grow it.

One of the questions that a lot of people have when it comes to weed in Alaska is whether it is possible to buy seeds. Fortunately, you can buy marijuana seeds without any worry.

You can find a host of options for buying seeds, so you can then try to germinate strains that you like. Of course, you will need to follow all of the laws in Alaska when it comes to cultivation, which will be discussed next.

One of the other nice things about Alaska is that if you are over the age of 21, you are allowed to grow your own marijuana whether you are using it recreationally or medically.

If there is one person in the home, you can have up to six plants, but only three of them can be flowering at one time. If there are two or more people in the home, you can have up to 12 plants. Again, only half of them can be flowering at one time.

As long as you are growing marijuana for personal use, you won’t have any problems with the law. Just make sure the plants are in a location that’s not visible to the public and that they are kept out of the reach of anyone who isn’t 21 or older.

The age to be able to smoke weed in Alaska will depend on whether you have a medical marijuana card or you are buying/growing for recreational use.

You can be 18 years old and apply for a medical card, as long as you have a qualifying condition. Parental consent is not required for patients who are at least 18 years old. However, if the patient is a minor, they will need to have a registered caregiver. This caregiver is required to be at least 21 years old. Additionally, they cannot have a criminal record. They also need to be a legal caregiver of the patient who is requiring assistance.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is the government body in charge of the Marijuana Registry, as well as the application process. It’s through their site that you can apply as a patient and a caregiver.

Even though weed might be legal, it is still a good idea for those who qualify to get a medical marijuana card. It can be used before you are 21, and it often means that you are going to pay less for marijuana. You will have access to the medical marijuana dispensaries, as well.

You don’t exactly buy a medical marijuana card. Instead, you will need to meet certain requirements. This will include having a diagnosis of one of the qualifying medical conditions mentioned above. This diagnosis needs to be from a doctor who has seen you in the office within the last 16 months.

After you have been diagnosed, you can take the recommendation from the doctor and show the Medical Marijuana Registry. From there, you can start the application process to get your card.

Keep in mind that just because you get the card now doesn’t mean that it lasts forever. You will need to have a medical evaluation each year to determine whether you are still eligible.