Is CBD legal in Alaska? 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is becoming more widely available and legal throughout the U.S., and Alaska is right there.

You may be wondering- is CBD legal in Alaska? Yes, it certainly is. While the legality of cannabis and hemp products is still a grey area – or even illegal – in many States, Alaska stands out as one exception to that rule. 

In this article, we’ll talk about the legislation around cannabis in Alaska and how to get CBD if you want it. 

About Alaska and its laws regarding cannabis and hemp.

Cannabis is legal in Alaska for medicinal purposes, and for recrational use. 

A pioneer and frontier in so many ways- cannabis is no exception. The Northern state legalized marijuana for prescribed medical use in 1998. Legalization of recreational use became available to Alaskans in 2015 for people over 21.

There are a few rules to follow, however. You can’t use cannabis in public places. The possession of cannabis in any form is illegal on federal property – including national parks. 

With all these liberal laws around cannabis, there shouldn’t much question whether CBD is legal in Alaska- but many wonder about it. 

Actually, Alaska treats the CBD constituent differently, depending on the type of CBD in question.  

CBD comes in various forms- and Alaska considers that. 

Full-spectrum CBD contains less than .03% THC but nevertheless contains it. Broad-spectrum CBD has all the plant compounds, but the THC has been extracted from the formula. The advantage of broad-spectrum is that it is 100% THC-free but still has all the terpenes and other constituents to address the user’s various concerns. 

CBD isolate is just the CBD compound without the other parts of the plant. 

Products that contain CBD include oils, tinctures, candies and gummies, topical applications, bath balms, and even CBD for pets. 

 CBD comes from cannabis, just as THC does. But it’s important to know that there are different kinds of cannabis plans: hemp and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but hemp has more CBD and less THC. in fact, hemp-based CBD only has trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the constituent of the plant that gets you high.   

CBD derived from marijuana instead of hemp has a higher concentration of THC, and many people find this beneficial for various reasons- especially when it comes to health issues. 

The law on CBD in Alaska

Under the Agricultural Act of 2014, Alaska would start growing industrial hemp locally under a pilot program. The Alaska senate enacted Senate Bill 6 in April 2018 that authorized the state to move ahead with the pilot hemp program’s development. However, in 2021, the program has not yet started.

The bill defined industrial hemp as cannabis with a THC concentration of below 0.3 %. Alaska’sAlaska’s definition of industrial hemp pre-dated the nationally enacted 2018 Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill of 2018 allowed for the more extensive use of hemp-related products across the U.S. When that federal bill passed in 2019, Alaska proposed regulations regarding hemp and hemp-derived CBD products. 

However, they are still not adopted as law.

Under the law, the following regulations would be enforced:

• Strict labeling requirements
• No medical, health, or therapeutic claims can be on the label
• All products must undergo third-party testing to determine concentrations of CBD and THC.

 The Alaska Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit also declared that the sale of CBD products in Alaska is still not authorized- but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy it or use it. 

The legality of buying CBD in Alaska

Alaska has a relatively fair interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill. This means customers aren’t required to have any doctor’s prescription to buy CBD. 

So, if no one is authorized to sell CBD, how can you get it? Well, you can order it online from a reputable seller. 

Cannabis possession limits in Alaska- what you need to know. 

CBD products sold in Alaska should – technically – come from the state’s industrial hemp pilot program. But no such programs are currently up and running. Because of this up-in-the-air legal situation, any CBD products sold in stores in the state are not theoretically legal. 

However, this is rarely enforced. 

Also, the state has no clearly defined penalties if you are found in possession of hemp-derived CBD products.

Alaska has specified limits for the possession of cannabis (marijuana). If you’re 21 years or older, you can buy and possess up to one ounce of cannabis from a licensed seller. 

If you’re found in possession of up to 4 ounces, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and face prison time along with a hefty fine. 

If you’re caught with over 4 ounces, you may be charged with a felony, face up to a 5-year prison term, and face a fine of $50,000.

How to get CBD in Alaska

Despite unclear laws, you can get CBD products in smoke shops, cannabis dispensaries, and vape shops. 

Likewise, you can always order your CBD online- which may give you a better chance at getting what you need. The shops listed above aren’t always in possession of an adequate inventory of CBD. 

Like anywhere else in the U.S., ordering online is easy, and you can have your products delivered right to your home. 

So, is CBD legal in Alaska? The bottom line is- yes, kind of. You may have to order it online to get the quality products you really want and need.