Alaska Recreational Cannabis Laws FAQ

Updated April 22, 2024

Is marijuana legal in Alaska?

• Yes.

Is marijuana legal for recreational use in Alaska?

• Yes. As of February 24, 2015, it is legal for adults 21 and over to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in Alaska. The first recreational dispensary opened October 29, 2016.

I am not a resident of Alaska. Can I buy marijuana?

• Yes. Anyone over the age of 21 can purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in Alaska, including out-of-state and out-of-country residents.

Do I need a medical card or special identification to buy marijuana?

• No. You only need to prove you are over the age of 21. You can do this with a driver’s license, state-ID, or passport.

Where can I buy marijuana in Alaska?

• There are recreational marijuana dispensaries (pot shops) throughout the state. To help you find the recreational shops, we have a complete directory of recreational weed shops in Alaska.

Can I get marijuana delivery in Alaska?

• No, Alaska does not allow recreational marijuana delivery. You must visit one of the many recreational marijuana dispensaries in Alaska to get legal weed.

What kind of marijuana can I purchase in recreational pot shops?

• Every type of cannabis product can be purchased including: flower (buds), hash oil, edibles, cannabis-infused drinks.

How much marijuana can I buy in Alaska?

• Adults over 21 can purchase up to one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana flower or seven grams of concentrate at a time. 

How much marijuana can I possess?

• Adults over the age of 21 can possess up to one ounce of marijuana flower or seven grams of concentrate (wax, shatter, oil), in public. Up to 4 ounces of flower may be legally kept in a private residence.

 Can I possess marijuana anywhere in the state?

• Almost anywhere. National parks, national monuments, and national forests are Federal lands and you cannot legally possess marijuana on Federal land.

Can I possess marijuana in a car?

• Yes. You can possess up to one ounce of marijuana in a car, but it must be in a sealed container or in the trunk. As such, you cannot consume it in a moving vehicle.

Can I smoke marijuana while driving?

• No. You cannot smoke while driving and you cannot drive stoned. Both are illegal.

Where can I smoke marijuana in Alaska?

• You can smoke marijuana on any private property where marijuana consumption is allowed. Alaska also allows specially designated pot shops to have a smoking area.

Can I smoke marijuana in public?

• No, not legally. You must be on private property where marijuana consumption is allowed.

Can I smoke marijuana in my hotel?

• Yes, some hotels allow it. Hotels are private property and can allow it or tolerate it if they choose. Check with your hotel for their policy. Typically, you would need to get a smoking room or have an outside area where pot smoking is allowed. Check our Alaska recommended hotels directory for hotels with private balconies and smoking rooms.

Can I smoke my marijuana with someone under 21?

• No. It is illegal for people under 21 to buy, possess or use retail marijuana. It is illegal for anyone to give, sell to, or share marijuana with anyone under 21.

Can I take marijuana from Alaska out of state?

• No. You cannot take marijuana from Alaska outside of the state. You cannot cross the border with it and you can’t fly with it outside of the state.

This is just a general guide and is NOT intended as legal advice. For more information on Alaska laws, visit the state health department’s official website: dhss.alaska.gov .