A new law in Alaska regulating the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) allowed in cannabis edibles recently took effect, allowing cannabis retailers in the state to sell edibles with a higher amount of THC than ever before. Historically, Alaska has been one of the most conservative states when it comes to setting limits on legal cannabis use, so the new regulatory scheme is generating a great deal of interest among cannabis industry observers.
To learn more about how Alaska now allows more THC in cannabis edibles, and the effect this might have on the state’s cannabis market, keep reading this blog.
Alaska Marijuana Control Board Increases THC Limits for Cannabis Edibles
On September 1, a new Alaska cannabis law regulating the quantity of THC allowed in edible products went into effect. In June 2021, the Alaska Marijuana Control Board, which serves as a regulatory agency to control the cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of all marijuana products in the state, held a meeting and voted to change the law to grant more freedom to both consumers and distributors when it comes to THC content in edibles. The regulatory changes were officially codified into law on August 2 after the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska sent a memo to certify the Marijuana Control Board’s decision.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and it’s the compound that produces the “high” that a person gets when they consume cannabis. By law in Alaska, the amount of THC in any marijuana product – including bud, flower, concentrate, and edibles – must be tested for THC at an approved marijuana testing facility. These tests are also supposed to measure the concentration of THCA, CBD, CBDA, and CBN cannabinoids in a cannabis product that has been cultivated for legal distribution and/or sale at a licensed dispensary.
What Are the THC Potency Limits for Edible Marijuana Products in Alaska?
Much like the laws in other states where cannabis is legal, the revised regulations in Alaska still set potency limits on the amount of THC allowed per serving of an edible and per individual transaction involving an edible. Prior to the new rule change, cannabis retailers were limited to selling edibles in single servings containing a maximum of 5mg of THC. That cap on THC has now been doubled, so that cannabis consumers can legally purchase single-serve edible products with up to 10mg of THC from dispensaries located in the state.
The potency limit has also been doubled for packages containing multiple servings of edible marijuana products: from 50 milligrams of active THC to 100 milligrams of active THC. Additionally, the rules place a cap on the total number of servings that are allowed in each package: a maximum of 10 servings of edibles, with the THC content evenly distributed throughout the product so that no one serving will cause a spike in THC for the user.
Contact Scythian Cannabis Real Estate
The popularity of cannabis concentrates and edibles has started to influence policy decisions in states where cannabis is legal for recreational use. It has also affected the decisions made by cannabis operators who are looking to expand their reach into these states.
If you are a sophisticated cannabis operator looking for technical assistance or financial assistance in the form of a sale-leaseback deal, Scythian Real Estate can help. Email us now for more information.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BLOG IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO SELL NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES IN SCYTHIAN REAL ESTATE FUND.
