Dig it or don’t, cannabis is the most valuable cash crop in Alaska, the basis of an industry that has thrived since a 2014 ballot initiative legalized the drug for recreational use. Mandated by law to be owned and operated by state residents, the industry is thoroughly Alaskan, diversifies the economy, and stirs the competitive drive of new generations of entrepreneurs—all things this magazine stands for. Cannabis cannot be ignored.
Although this month’s special section examines healthcare from a variety of angles, the medicinal qualities of cannabis are not part of that coverage. While Barbara and Karissa Paschall help customers at their Nature's Releaf shop feel groovy, their main contribution to public health is tax revenue dedicated to programs that support responsible use of the drug.
