Alaska

Equity Project State Briefing

Social Equity

Social Equity Definition / Criteria

Alaska does not have a state social equity program.

Social Equity Provisions

Alaska does not have a state social equity program.

License Priorities and Set Asides

  • License Priorities / Set Asides:
No

Alaska does not have any specific licensure set asides for social equity operators, nor is there any state level licensing priority given for social equity applicants.

Fee Waivers and Reductions

  • Fee Waivers / Reductions:
No

Alaska does not offer state level fee waivers or reductions for application or licensure fees.

Other Financial Support for Social Equity Applicants and Licensees

Alaska does not offer state level funding to support individuals who have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition.

Other Licensing Provisions

License Caps

  • License Caps:
No

Alaska does not limit the number of available licenses at the state level. However, municipalities may place local limits on the number of marijuana establishment operations and may opt out of participating in the adult use all together.. There is no noted carve out for pre-existing medical operators.

Source:

Alaska Statutes Tit. 17 Ch. 17.38 Sec. 17.38.210. Subsection (b)
3 Alaska Admin. Code § 306.200. Subsection (a)(2)

Application Selection Process

  • Selection System:
Merit

Alaska has a merit-based award system used to distribute adult use licenses.

Source:

3 Alaska Admin. Code § 306.080. Subsections (a)(1-7)

Felony Disqualification on Ownership

  • Ownership Exclusion for Felony Convictions:
Yes
  • Exemption for Cannabis Offenses:
Yes

Alaska’s adult use framework disqualifies applicants for cannabis licensure on the basis of their conviction history. The board will not issue a marijuana establishment license to a person that has been convicted of a felony if the conviction was within the last five years or if the person is still on probation or parole for the conviction. Additionally, the board will not issue a license if a person has been convicted of selling alcohol without a license or been convicted of a misdemeanor crime involving a controlled substance, violence against a person, use of a weapon, or dishonesty within the preceding five years. (There is a natural carve out protecting individuals with cannabis convictions prior to 2014 adult use legalization). Finally, the board will not issue a license if a person has been convicted of a class A misdemeanor, within two years before submitting the application, related to distributing marijuana contrary to current state law.

Source:

3 Alaska Admin. Code § 306.010. Subsections (d)(1-3)
Alaska Stat. § 17.38.200. Subsection (i)

Employee Criminal Records

  • Conviction Restrictions for Employees:
Yes
  • Exemption for Cannabis Offenses:
Yes

Within Alaska’s adult use framework  potential employees are banned from holding the required marijuana handlers license if they

 (1) have a felony conviction that is less than five years old, or for which they are still on probation/parole

 (2) have a Class A misdemeanor conviction for a  controlled substance conviction within the last two years. Certain Schedule VIA controlled substances, such as cannabis do not fall within this category

(3) have a Class A misdemeanor conviction  relating to selling, furnishing, or distributing marijuana within the two year period immediately preceding submission of an application.

Source:

3 Alaska Admin. Code § 306.700. Subsection (f)
Alaska Stat. § 11.71.190. Subsection (b)

Availability of Expungements

  • Expungements:
No

There are no record cleaning options to expunge cannabis convictions for activity which is now legal under state law.