Alaska has brought in over $110 million in new tax revenue from marijuana and marijuana products purchased legally between January, 2017 and January, 2023.
Alaska voters legalized recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older in 2015, with the first marijuana retail outlet opening their doors towards the end of the following year. Between 2017 and the end of 2022, Alaska garnered $113,212,190 in tax revenue from the marijuana industry, according to data released by the Alaska Department of Revenue. This doesn’t include the estimated $7 to 8 million already made so far in 2023.
Since the start of legal sales Alaska has sold almost 1.4 million ounces in dried marijuana flower, which doesn’t include products like trim and shake. This is despite Alaska having a population of less than 750,000 (only two other states, Wyoming and Vermont, have a smaller population).
In Anchorage alone there has been over $500 million in marijuana sold since the start of legal sales, resulting in over $25 million in taxes for the city. The biggest month for marijuana sales came in October, 2022, with $10,483,588 sold. This was followed closely by July, 2021 with $10,417,832, and September, 2022 with $10,304,016 sold.
Under Alaska’s marijuana law those 21 and older are allowed to purchase up to an ounce of marijuana from a licensed marijuana retail outlets. Alaskan residence are allowed to possess up to four ounces, but can only purchase one ounce at a time.
