Alaska lawmakers this week passed legislation that will shield people’s marijuana conviction records from being publicly released in certain circumstances.
The cannabis provisions are included in a large package of criminal justice legislation that cleared the Senate in a 20-0 vote on Tuesday and was approved by the House of Representatives 39-1 on Wednesday. HB 239 now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R).
If enacted into law, the bill will make it so people who were convicted of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana while over 21 years of age at the time of the offense can request that their records not be released. The protections only apply to people who were not convicted of any other criminal charges in the relevant case.
The requirement for someone to proactively request that their records not be released in order for them to remain sealed will be sunsetted on January 1, 2028.
The cannabis reform that is now part of the omnibus criminal justice legislation heading to the governor was originally introduced as a standalone bill, HB 81 from Rep. David Nelson (R).
“In 2014, the state of Alaska voted to legalize the cultivation, sale, and recreational use of marijuana for adults. Despite this change in state law, some Alaskans remain blocked from employment, housing, volunteering, licensing, and other opportunities,” Nelson said in a sponsor statement about the bill. “Hardworking Alaskans could automatically be denied a chance because of previous low level marijuana convictions and employers are potentially deprived of skilled labor in an increasingly dwindling labor market.”
“The State cannot afford to pass on skilled labor simply because low level misdemeanors are hindering some Alaskans from pursuing those positions or from finding housing closer to better opportunities,” he said. “This bill will help individuals keep portions of their record confidential while still allowing government agencies access for background and statistical information. Hardworking Alaskans must be given a chance to find redemption for small mistakes and be given the opportunity to make an economic impact like any other citizen.”
Karen O’Keefe, state policies director for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Marijuana Moment that “for too many Alaskans, past convictions for conduct that is now legal continue to close the door on opportunities, making it harder to secure housing, an education, jobs, and professional licensing.”
“We’re pleased that Alaska legislators have recognized that it’s wrong to impose an economic life sentence for outdated low-level possession convictions,” she said.
Separately in Alaska, a government task force recommended earlier this year that the state move forward with plans to provide regulated access to psychedelics if the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes the medical use of substances like psilocybin and MDMA.
An activist campaign, meanwhile, announced in December that it failed to collect enough signatures to put an initiative to legalize certain psychedelics such as psilocybin and DMT on the state’s 2026 ballot—but activists emphasized that the “work is far from over” as they shift focus to placing the reform measure before voters in 2028.
