State-Specific Cannabis Dispensary Regulation for Alaska

Marijuana business licenses in Alaska are tied to a physical location, so finding somewhere to operate is the first step to obtaining a license and opening a dispensary. Any brick-and-mortar location must abide by local ordinances and zoning codes. Operators will also need to demonstrate that they own or rent the property—or that they are in the process of obtaining a lease agreement—in order to be approved.

Once a cannabis company is approved, it will need to adhere to all dispensary regulations set forth by AMCO. These include:

• Customers must be 21 or older to purchase marijuana from licensed retailers in Alaska. Their age must be confirmed with a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license,
• Customers are limited to buying one ounce of usable cannabis, seven grams of marijuana concentrate, or 5,600 milligrams of THC per day.
• State law dictates that Alaskan dispensaries can operate between 8 a.m. and 5 a.m. Local jurisdictions may have their own separate rules, so it is important to research your area.
  • “Consumption of marijuana in public is prohibited by law.”
  • “Transportation or carriage of marijuana or marijuana products on Alaska waterways, including cruise ships, or by air carrier is prohibited by federal law.”
  • “Transportation or shipment of marijuana or marijuana products outside the State of Alaska is prohibited by federal law.”
  • “Providing marijuana to persons under 21 years of age is prohibited by law.”
• The sign carrying this information must be 11 inches by 14 inches at minimum in size, with lettering that is at least one-half inch in height and is in a color that contrasts the sign’s background.

Cannabis retailers must report and track all marijuana products from the time they enter the store’s possession until they are sold, transferred, or discarded. In Alaska, the Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting & Compliance (METRC) verification system is used for seed-to-sale tracking and reporting. All dispensaries must use a system that can transfer tracking information to METRC.

If you seek more information on payment processing laws in the state of Alaska and how they may affect your cannabusiness, contact a Paybotic representative today for assistance.

How Paybotic Can Help with Cannabis Payment Processing in Alaska

Paybotic offers solutions that streamline the payment processing and help cannabusinesses adhere to stage regulations:

• eChecks: The ability to accept electronic payments such as eChecks removes the complicated process of managing invoices, which will improve convenience for staff and customers alike. Paybotic can assist in setting up an electronic payment system that fits your dispensary’s needs.
• Debit processing: Although accepting credit card payments for cannabis can be complicated and even impossible in certain areas, debit cards remain a convenient means of doing so. Paybotic can help implement a PIN-based payment system for your store that streamlines the processing and makes reporting much easier.
• Gift cards: If you have not created a gift card program yet, Paybotic is here to help! Not only do gift cards give current customers another payment option, but they increase the likelihood that new customers will discover your store thanks to gifting.

To learn more about what Paybotic can do for your company, contact us today.