As early as summer this year, Alaska may be the first state to allow marijuana consumption in businesses open to the public. With the hard work put in by the Alaska Marijuana Board, cannabis cafe may well be on its way.
The Alaska Marijuana Board is said to start accepting applications for marijuana business licenses on February 24. By late May, the state board is suspected to start issuing licenses. Though technically, the state’s enacted law on marijuana still forbids public consumption, it was not specific what “public places” are.
The proposal only allows cannabis edibles consumption on site, currently. The board, though, is still trying to distinguish whether cafes will be able to sell marijuana edibles or customers will have to bring their own. The Alaska Medical Marijuana Board will have full authority on these establishments. Supporters are hopeful for the bright future of marijuana in Alaska.
Municipalities, like Anchorage, still can choose to put a ban on public consumption and therefore ban such marijuana businesses. Since Anchorage has a ban put on public consumption, licensed retailers for onsite consumption may still be legally jeopardized for trying to open such establishments in the city.