The home of America’s final frontier might seem like the perfect place to kick back, spark up a joint, and reconnect with nature, but local legislation has made that dream pretty difficult to come by for most.
Alaska is one of the most beautiful places on earth, boasting bold landscapes, coastlines, and abundant wildlife, so it’s understandable if you want to plan a trip there.
If you’re a marijuana enthusiast, the great state of Alaska seems like the perfect place to disconnect from the developed world, but there are some things you should know before getting on that plane. To give you a head start, we’ve put together a list of everything you need to know about getting weed in Alaska.
- Traveling with marijuana
Traveling with marijuana has never been easy, and is still challenging even for people with permits. The fact that marijuana is still federally illegal makes it extremely difficult to travel across state lines with your own cannabis products.
Even if you’re traveling to a recreational or medical state, transporting marijuana products can get pretty dicey. If you’re traveling by car, you might not have any trouble. There aren’t very many ways into Alaska by car though, so you’ll likely have to fly -which is where the trouble begins.
Alaska Airlines has a pretty strict zero-marijuana policy for both it’s pilots and passengers. That means if you’re planning to smoke weed on your Alaskan adventure, you’re going to have to buy it at a dispensary after you arrive.
- Who is allowed to smoke
Good news for most, bad news for most teenagers -in the state of Alaska, any person aged 21 years or older is allowed to possess and smoke marijuana. Generally speaking, the use of marijuana is treated like that of alcohol, so if you’re 21 or older, you’re allowed to buy it in a dispensary and smoke it within the limits of legal use.
Every dispensary owner or budtender will check your identification (possibly multiple times), so make sure yours is valid before you travel! If you’re under 21, we recommend postponing your travel plans for a few years if weed is at the top of your travel checklist.
- Where you’re allowed to smoke
Alaska is a bit of a complicated situation when it comes to weed. It’s as if the Alaska state government wants you to be able to possess it, but not smoke it. If you’re a resident of Alaska and have your own private property, this isn’t really an issue for you.
However, if you’re a tourist in Alaska wanting to smoke some bud during your trip, you’re going to run into some major hang-ups. For starters, as we already mentioned, you’re not allowed to fly into Alaska with your own weed. You’re not allowed to smoke in public places, including parks, playgrounds, and hotel lobbies.
You’re only allowed to smoke pot on private property, or in an area specifically designated for smoking weed, like those in certain weed dispensaries in Alaska. If you’re worried about finding a place to smoke, contact your accommodating host to see if they allow marijuana smoking on their property. Sometimes it’s as easy as asking!
- Where to buy marijuana
The market for weed in Alaska might seem sparse, but that’s likely because most of Alaska is wilderness. You’ll be able to find a dispensary for all of your cannabis needs in larger, more developed places like Anchorage or Fairbanks, and some smaller cities like Homer and Wasilla.
For a more complete list of dispensaries in the state of Alaska, check out this page on Veriheal. You might find a dispensary and smoking lounge closer than you think!
- Driving with marijuana
When it comes to consuming any mind-altering substance like marijuana, it’s always best to drive sober. In Alaska, driving under the influence of any amount of marijuana is considered driving while intoxicated, and will be treated as if you were driving drunk -so be safe, and just don’t do it!
Conclusion
Visiting Alaska can be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for anyone. If you follow these tips, we think your Alaskan adventure can be even better!
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