Alaska marijuana tax revenue up again in August

Alaska saw another month of climbing cannabis tax revenue in August, and another month with the highest tax revenue to date.

In August, the state collected $1.54 million in marijuana taxes from 111 growers, according to data from Kelly Mazzei, excise group supervisor with the Alaska Department of Revenue's Tax Division.

The tax revenue was collected on 1,613 pounds of marijuana bud, taxed at $50 an ounce, and 1,041 pounds of trim, taxed at $15 an ounce, Mazzei said.

August continues a steady climb in revenue that began in April. In July, the state collected $1.37 million in marijuana taxes.

The state has collected $15.8 million in cannabis tax revenue since stores opened in October 2016, Mazzei said. Growers in the Fairbanks area – a city that early on emerged as a forerunner in the industry —  have paid out the most in taxes  at $5.1 million, followed by Anchorage at $4.9 million.

More recent marijuana news

The Daily News examined a trend among Alaska consumers toward buying cannabis with high THC – and found that potent pot's higher prices may not be worth it.

A Sitka Assembly member was sued over a cannabis business dispute, and the Anchorage Assembly suspended a grower's license for 30 days.

Meanwhile, California reported that marijuana products were failing safety tests at a high rate, and Canada's newly legal weed is causing headaches for marijuana customers and investors at the U.S. border.

Also in Canada, a $15 billion cannabis king has emerged. And a Maine restaurant started sedating lobsters with marijuana smoke.