While Alaskans can begin applying for commercial marijuana licenses with the state next week, retail establishments and cultivation facilities won’t be seen until this fall.
Kenai resident Dollynda Phelps, who is also a Kenai Peninsula Marijuana Task Force member, plans to submit an application on February 24 but says there is a long timeline to clear before owners or cultivators will be able to get products out.
Phelps: “So March 16 would be the earliest date that an application initiated on the 24th could be considered complete because of the three week notification. There’s the implementation of the marijuana inventory tracking system and that won’t be available until May 23. And that’s something that needs to be included on the business application under the operating plan.”
Other steps toward marijuana retail include a certified handler course that owners and employees must take, which has been suggested for April, and state approval of cultivation and testing facilities in June.
Phelps says while growing commercial marijuana legally cannot begin before permits are issued, some Alaskan are taking risks within the law in the hopes of pioneering the state’s pot retail business.
Phelps: “They’re moving forward with their build-outs, they’re moving forward installing their security systems and getting everything aligned and getting all the lighting set up. It really is a personal choice about how much you want to invest in this before you even know if you’re going to get a license.”
The Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office is hosting classes assisting people interested in how to efficiently fill out the commercial marijuana applications and will post a recording of today’s class online. Click here for their website.