An Administrative Order was issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy to establish the Governor’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Marijuana. Its purpose is to review the current marijuana tax and fee structures, and regulations applicable to marijuana operators, and provide recommendations for improvement to the Office of the Governor.
A majority of Alaskans voted ‘yes’ on a 2014 initiative to tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana. The initiative imposed $50 per ounce excise tax on the sale of marijuana from warehouses to retailers and took effect in February 2015. The Governor’s office says that it’s an appropriate time to reevaluate the provisions, including those now codified in AS 43.61. The Alaska Department of Revenue in FY21 collected $30 million in marijuana taxes, three-times the amount collected in 2018.
The Task Force will consist of 13 voting members.
Three voting members who are State of Alaska officials identified as follows:
- The Commissioner of the Department of Revenue or the Commissioner’s designee;
- The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development or the Commissioner’s designee;
- The Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture.
Ten voting members, who are not state officials, identified as follows:
- One member who sits on the Alaska Marijuana Control Board;
- One member who represents a city, borough, or municipality that allows recreational marijuana businesses within its jurisdictional boundaries;
- One member that is a standard licensed marijuana cultivator in the State;
- One member that is a limited licensed marijuana cultivator in the State;
- One member that is a licensed marijuana product or concentrate manufacturer in the State;
- One member that is a licensed marijuana retailer in the State;
- Three licensed marijuana operators from any segment of the industry;
- One public member.
Once Governor Mike Dunleavy names the appointments to the Task Force, it will meet on a monthly basis and submit a report on findings and recommendations by January 13, 2023.
NOTE: residents interested in serving on the Governor’s Advisory Task Force on Recreational Marijuana may apply here gov.alaska.gov/apply.