Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation in June 2017. Jennifer Canfield, co-owner of the marijuana retailer, says proposed on-site consumption rules could reduce the public’s exposure to marijuana smoke. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire file)

Alaska marijuana board opens comment on café-style rules

The Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office has begun taking public comments on a proposal that could allow Amsterdam-style marijuana cafés in Alaska. In a public… Continue reading

Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation in June 2017. Jennifer Canfield, co-owner of the marijuana retailer, says proposed on-site consumption rules could reduce the public’s exposure to marijuana smoke. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire file)
Alaska marijuana sales staying high

Alaska marijuana sales staying high

Alaska’s marijuana industry is still riding high, according to new figures from the Alaska Department of Revenue. According to tax data collected by the department,… Continue reading

Alaska marijuana sales staying high
Young marijuana plants grow indoors under lights at the Fireweed Factory in Juneau on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska marijuana tax collections set another record

Alaska’s March marijuana tax revenue topped $1 million and set a new monthly record, according to figures released last week by the Alaska Department of… Continue reading

Young marijuana plants grow indoors under lights at the Fireweed Factory in Juneau on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, signs a committee report on Senate Bill 63 late Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in the Alaska State Capitol. Also pictured are a legislative staffer (standing), Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak (center) and Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage (right). (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Antismoking bill advances in Alaska House

The chief legislative antagonist of a statewide antismoking bill relaxed her opposition Tuesday evening, and a revised version of the measure now appears bound for… Continue reading

Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, signs a committee report on Senate Bill 63 late Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in the Alaska State Capitol. Also pictured are a legislative staffer (standing), Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak (center) and Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage (right). (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Report: Alaska marijuana revenue declines in February, expected to rebound in March

Alaska’s marijuana tax revenue dipped in February, according to a new report from the Alaska Department of Revenue. On Tuesday, the department said the state… Continue reading

About 2 1/2 oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Wells Fargo forces closure of Alaska marijuana lab

Correction: Wells Fargo spokesman David Kennedy was misidentified in an earlier version of this article. He is David Kennedy, not Brian Kennedy. This article has been… Continue reading

About 2 1/2 oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska made a marijuana million in January, figures show

For the first time since Alaskans legalized recreational marijuana, the state has collected more than $1 million in marijuana taxes in a single month. According… Continue reading

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Alaska House votes to legalize hemp farming

The Alaska House of Representatives has voted unanimously to legalize hemp farming in Alaska, a move that puts the 49th state on track to become… Continue reading

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Marijuana sales drop for second straight month

Alaska marijuana sales have dropped for the second consecutive month after nearly a year of steady increases. According to figures released last week by the… Continue reading

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)

Marijuana board may examine pot taxes

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board may ask the Alaska Legislature to reconsider the state’s marijuana tax. In a decision Thursday, the five-person board asked the… Continue reading

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)
The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)

State regulator warns of possible danger in marijuana concentrates

The director of Alaska’s state marijuana regulator is warning that Alaska’s ongoing problems with marijuana testing may pose a health hazard to users of marijuana… Continue reading

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)

North Slope police chief named to marijuana board

Gov. Bill Walker has appointed North Slope Borough Police Chief Travis Welch to a vacant position on the Alaska Marijuana Control Board. The board, which… Continue reading

Marijuana Control Board seeks to fill vacancy

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board is collecting applications from Alaskans interested in filling a seat vacated by the resignation of Peter Mlynarik. Mlynarik, the board’s… Continue reading

In this Dec. 15, 2017 photo, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is going after legalized marijuana. Sessions is rescinding a policy that had let legalized marijuana flourish without federal intervention across the country. That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the decision. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press File)

Alaska marijuana businesses vow to press on after Sessions’ decision

Juneau’s marijuana retailers say they will continue to press ahead after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ended an Obama-era policy Thursday that paved the way… Continue reading

In this Dec. 15, 2017 photo, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is going after legalized marijuana. Sessions is rescinding a policy that had let legalized marijuana flourish without federal intervention across the country. That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the decision. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press File)

Alaska marijuana sales drop in November

Alaskans bought less marijuana in November than they did in October, the first time the infant industry posted a decline in 2017. The Alaska Department… Continue reading

State marijuana testing inaccurate, board warns

Alaska’s marijuana regulators are warning that potency labels on marijuana packages may be inaccurate. In a Tuesday meeting of the Alaska Marijuana Control Board, members… Continue reading

Marijuana board orders Fairbanks manufacturer to close

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board has given the death penalty to one of Alaska’s largest manufacturers of edible marijuana products. On Friday morning, the board… Continue reading

Frozen Budz, the company awarded the first retail marijuana license in Alaska, is accused of manufacturing almost 115,000 marijuana edibles that violated state regulations and may have been contaminated with mold. (Alaska Marijuana Control Office photo)

‘Edibles’ scandal hits Alaska’s marijuana board

Alaska’s one-year-old recreational marijuana industry faces a major test Friday morning as members of the Alaska Marijuana Control Board consider whether to revoke the license… Continue reading

Frozen Budz, the company awarded the first retail marijuana license in Alaska, is accused of manufacturing almost 115,000 marijuana edibles that violated state regulations and may have been contaminated with mold. (Alaska Marijuana Control Office photo)
Brothers James and Giono Barrett, owners of Rainforest Farms, arrange a display of their cannabis products at their retail store in Juneau on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. The brothers just celebrated the one year anniversary of their business. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska marijuana sales set another record

For Gallery Walk, the owners of Rainforest Farms decided to throw a party celebrating one year in business. There were special products and live music,… Continue reading

Brothers James and Giono Barrett, owners of Rainforest Farms, arrange a display of their cannabis products at their retail store in Juneau on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. The brothers just celebrated the one year anniversary of their business. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Marijuana tax revenue grows again

Alaska is continuing to make more money from marijuana, according to new figures from the Alaska Department of Revenue. The state collected $723,757 in taxes… Continue reading