Recreational cannabis has been legal in Alaska since 2014. People over 21 years old can walk into a marijuana dispensary and purchase marijuana and cannabis for their recreational use.
The Alaska State has recognized the potential benefits of marijuana and acknowledged that many consumers take it to increase their sense of wellbeing and to reach their personal health goals.
The budtenders at Alaska’s marijuana dispensaries can guide customers into making suitable cannabis choices for their needs. Here at Hillside Natural Wellness, our budtenders will listen to your requests and help you find the cannabis product that you need.
First-time buyers will feel welcome and all their questions will be answered kindly and with respect. Our budtenders stay informed on everything that has to do with cannabis and marijuana, so they will know everything about new strains and new cannabis products. Once they understand your needs, they will show you which marijuana products match them.
Here is the legal framework of cannabis sales in Alaska.
Can I Buy Cannabis in Alaska?
Cannabis consumption and sales have been legal in Alaska since 2014. Consumers don’t need a medical card to purchase marijuana. They can enter a marijuana dispensary and buy the marijuana products they want up to the limit set forth by the law.
What Is the Legal Age to Purchase Marijuana in Alaska?
You must be 21 years old to be legally allowed to buy recreational marijuana in Alaska. You will be asked to display a valid ID such as a driver’s license to verify your age. Specifically, you may be asked to show your ID when you enter the marijuana dispensary as well as when you pay for your purchases.
How Much Cannabis Can I Buy in Alaska?
The legal limit of cannabis you can buy in Alaska is one ounce of cannabis flowers or 7 gr of cannabis concentrate or total cannabis with less than 5.6 gr of THC in total.
If you are unsure about the quantity of cannabis you can buy, our budtenders can help you. They will calculate the total THC content of your purchases and guide you into staying within the legal limit while still enjoying your marijuana.
Where Can I Consume My Cannabis in Alaska?
Alaska state law specifies that you may not consume cannabis in public, including state and federal land. So, you may not smoke your cannabis flowers in a park or on a stroll around your neighborhood. You must consume your cannabis in the privacy of your own home. Parks, playgrounds, open spaces, and other public areas are off-limits for cannabis consumption.
Can I Pay with My Credit Card for My Cannabis Purchases in Alaska?
Most dispensaries have a cash-only policy. Usually, you can only pay for your marijuana purchases with cash.
Can You Deliver My Marijuana Order in Alaska?
While marijuana is legal in Alaska, it is illegal to transport or deliver it. We will be happy to prepare your order for you and have it ready for pickup at your convenience.
How Do I Store My Marijuana in My Car?
State law specifies that you can’t have your marijuana purchase in a visible part of your car. You must always have your marijuana package in a sealed container, preferably inside your trunk. If your car doesn’t have a trunk, you should store your sealed marijuana under the last row of seats in a discrete way.
Can I Drive under the Influence of Marijuana?
Driving under the influence of marijuana in Alaska is a DUI offense.
Marijuana can affect your mind and cause light-headedness and disorientation. It can also slow down your reflexes, which makes you dangerous behind the wheel. Just like you shouldn’t drive after the consumption of alcohol, you shouldn’t drive under the influence of marijuana either.
For your own safety and the safety of other drivers, consume your cannabis responsibly and assign someone else to drive for you.
Can I Board a Plane with Cannabis in My Luggage?
You may not take your marijuana with you when traveling by plane. It doesn’t matter if it’s in your checked luggage or your carry on luggage. Even if you are not fined, you will be asked to dispose of your cannabis before boarding the plane.
To be on the safe side, it is better if you consume all your cannabis before traveling.
With this in mind, our budtenders will suggest you purchase the amount of cannabis you actually need. Instead of stocking up, you can always buy some more during your next visit to Hillside Natural Wellness.
Can Visitors Buy Marijuana in Alaska?
Everyone over the age of 21 may legally buy marijuana in Alaska, including non-residents. The same rules and limits apply to both residents and out-of-state visitors.
Can I Give Marijuana as a Gift to Someone in Alaska?
As long as the person you are giving the marijuana is over 21 years old and you are only giving them the legal amount of marijuana, you may give cannabis.
Can I Grow Marijuana Plants for Myself in Alaska?
State law specifies that you can grow your own marijuana plants for your personal consumption. You can grow up to 6 cannabis plants, with only 3 of them at full maturity at any single time.
Likewise, you can give marijuana plants to someone, as long as they are over 21 years old and you stay within the 6-plants limit.
Why Should I Take Cannabis?
Pain Management
The use of cannabis can be traced back to ancient Chinese texts, dating to 2900 B.C. The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, a Chinese encyclopedia on agriculture and medicine, contains the oldest written record of cannabis as a medicine. It recommends cannabis for constipation, rheumatic pain, female reproductive tract disorders, and malaria. The plant was also used in conjunction with wine to anesthetize patients during surgical procedures.
Around 1000 B.C., more parts of the cannabis plant started to be used medicinally in India. The female plant’s flowers were utilized and three different preparations of cannabis with varying degrees of potency were developed. The strongest preparations were used as an analgesic, hypnotic, tranquilizer, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory agent [1].
Today, studies confirm that Marijuana may help with pain management [2]. This is particularly important given the problem of opioid addiction. As a recent clinical review pointed out:
“Less reliance on opioid pharmacotherapy may in turn lead to fewer fatal opioid overdoses. A recent examination of Medicare claims data also showed that the use of prescription pain medications, including opioids, was significantly reduced in states following the implementation of medical cannabis laws. Finally, another study demonstrated that the percentage of drivers testing positive for opioids after traffic fatalities was significantly reduced in states with medical cannabis laws compared to states without such laws.” [3]
Other Issues
Some studies suggest that cannabis may assist with mental issues such as PTSD, with one systematic review concluding that cannabis was associated with a reduction in overall PTSD symptoms and an improved quality of life [4]. Because of its association with a more relaxed outlook on life, people who feel stressed and overwhelmed by life often turn to marijuana to regain their inner footing, recover their mental stability and calmness, and improve their sleep quality [5]. However, more research is necessary.
Marijuana is also used by glaucoma sufferers, as several clinical studies have found that marijuana may work as well as most conventional glaucoma medications to reduce intraocular pressure [6]. Interestingly, studies suggest that not all strains are the same: studies suggest that cannabidiol (CDB) may increase intraocular pressure, thus worsening the condition [7].
Marijuana may also help with nausea and vomiting, particularly after chemotherapy sessions. The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has included cannabinoids in its list of the strongest available agents for chemotherapy-induced nausea [8]. A 2021 study concluded that cannabis is an effective and fast-acting treatment for feelings of nausea, with symptom relief being statistically significant after just 5 minutes and increasing with time [9].
Visit Hillside Natural Wellness
Hillside Natural Wellness is your marijuana dispensary in Anchorage.
Order your marijuana products online or visit our shop at 8639 Toloff St. Anchorage, AK 99507 to ask our friendly budtenders any questions you may have regarding marijuana and cannabis. We love finding out about the needs of our new customers and welcoming back returning customers who appreciate our dedication and passion and our amazing selection of cannabis products!
Resources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549367/
[2] https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/2019/04000/an_experimental_randomized_study_on_the_analgesic.11.aspx
[3] ibíd.
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8222769/
[5] ibíd.
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224386/
[7] https://glaucomatoday.com/articles/2020-july-aug/cannabis-and-glaucoma
[8] https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2021/05/06/cannabis-offers-immediate-nausea-relief-study-shows/?sh=490049cc5b4f
[9] “The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea,” April 2021, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (https://journals.lww.com/jcge/Abstract/9000/The_Effectiveness_of_Common_Cannabis_Products_for.97442.aspx)
