Apply For Your AlaskaMedical Marijuana Card

The Status of Cannabis Legalization in Alaska

Recently in Alaska cannabis news, HB 28 was heard by the House Finance Committee in May 2023.

House Bill 28 reduces employment barriers for people previously convicted of low-level marijuana possession crimes. It prohibits the public release of records concerning low-level marijuana possession charges by the Alaska Court System or any other agency. The bill would also (to the largest extent possible) purge records of these convictions from publicly accessible records.

Not only does Alaska allow both recreational and medicinal cannabis, but it is also on the verge of onsite consumption. U.S. News and World Report detailed how a Juneau business applied for a permit in August to be able to legally eat edibles onsite after purchase. Though no smoking or vaping will be permitted, the leap from legalization in 2015 to public consumption is significant. 

Veriheal will be the first to tell you that the medical and recreational markets in Alaska are so closely aligned to where it hasn’t allowed a medical-specific market to prosper. Interviewed by Benzinga in June 2020, Veriheal co-founder Joshua Green told the news source due to the overall legalization in the state, the medicinal market for cannabis suffers. Since passed, the Alaska Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also called Measure 2, enables the regulation, production, sale and use of recreational cannabis for residents age 21 or older.  Medical cannabis was legalized in 1998 under Measure 8.

Though available to all Alaskans, the state still issues medical cannabis cards, which are available by registering with the state or through Veriheal. After filling out the application and providing a physician’s statement, residents can attain a medical cannabis license. Veriheal makes the process easy, setting you up with a physician for approval. If not approved, we are glad to refund the cost.

Qualifying Conditions in Alaska

There are several qualifying conditions in Alaska that permit residents to attain a medical cannabis card. They include:

• Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscle spasms

According to state guidelines, any patient applying for a license must have a signed physician statement detailing the qualifying condition that makes the applicant eligible. Additionally, any patient must have had a physical examination within 16 months prior to applying. 

Patient Registration Process

When we’re booking appointments in Alaska, Veriheal can help applicants find a physician and become registered. There are still certain state guidelines that must be followed including having a valid driver’s license or state identification card and paying an initial card fee of $25 after being certified with Veriheal at $199. If you are not approved with the assistance of Veriheal, a full refund is guaranteed. 

Potential patients must finish the following measures to join the Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry (MMR):

• Submit the initial application copy.
• Obtain and submit a signed form of declaration from the physician saying that a qualifying debilitating medical condition has been diagnosed to the patient.
• Send a photocopy of the patient and caregivers’  Alaska driver’s license or identification card.
• Pay an initial card fee of $25, or a renewal fee of $20. It is possible to make payments by check or money order.

If an application error occurs, patients will not be reimbursed and will not be able to reapply for six (6) months. Any modifications in email, main caregiver, or other private information must be presented to the MMR within 10 days. All files in the registry are confidential.

Caregiver Registration in Alaska

If a patient is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be the primary caregiver for the applicant, who will also apply for a registered card to both purchase and monitor use for the patient. A caregiver is only allowed to hold a card for one patient at a time unless they are blood relatives, in which case two cards can be held. A caregiver cannot have a felony conviction of any kind to legally be able to attain a card.

Cultivation and Possession of Medical Marijuana in Alaska

The cultivation and possession limits for cannabis vary in the state. Any Alaskan resident age 21 years old can possess up to one ounce or less of cannabis legally. A resident of the same age can also cultivate up to six immature plants with three flowering crops at a time legally. However, up to 12 marijuana crops may be present in a single dwelling, with six (6) or fewer flowering crops, irrespective of how many people over 21 live there. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Places to Visit in Alaska After Enjoying Your Medicine

Located in the utmost northwest, Alaska is a rare U.S. state purchased for a 7.2 million in 1867. Since colonized, the far-off region that borders British Columbia remains to have less than 1 million residents living in the least densely populated state in the country. Made up of glaciers, forests and vast amounts of water, the Alaska landscape is awe-inspiring. Add in the diverse culture and excitement in the capital of Juneau and Alaska only gets better. While buying medicinal or recreational cannabis in Alaska, take some time to revel in some of the sweetest spots.

Denali National Park

Available to visit from Anchorage or Fairbanks, Denali National Park can be accessed by railroad, water taxi, car, motor coach, or boat. Once visitors arrive, there is miles upon miles of landscape to take in. Meeting sled dogs and hiking through trails are two outdoor adventures many visitors embark on, seeing all sorts of wildlife. Camping, biking, and exploring Savage River are also ways to delve into Denali’s nooks and crannies.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier, a 13-mile region of gorgeous snow slides surrounded by icebergs on lakes, is one of the most beautiful sites in Alaska. Hiking through lake trails, visitors get up close and personal looks at mountain goats, beavers and spawning salmon. Mendenhall Glacier also offers interactive exhibits, telescopes, and ranger talks to teach visitors all about the historic region. Since one day is usually not enough to take in all the beauty of the area, nearby lodges and B&B’s in Juneau are perfect overnight rest spots.

Inside Passage

From the water of the Inside Passage, ancient totem poles and onion-domed Russian churches can be seen while floating through the area. While cruising along the waterway, whales, bald eagles, sea lions, and porpoises can also be spotted on fun boat tours through the wildlife-filled region. For a more intimate scenic tour, visitors can also travel the Inside Passage by water-taxi or an island-hopping plane.