Psychedelics in Alaska: Up-to-Date Laws for 2023
As fantastic as it would be to experience Alaska’s Northern Lights and vast wilderness on shrooms, the laws are a bear to get around 🐻
Magic mushrooms are psychoactive fungi that contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic component that makes them psychedelic. This is one of the most used psychedelic substances, and not only recreationally.
However, this and other psychedelics also have a diverse medicinal potential, which we’ll tell you about in this article.
Below, you will learn about the legality of shrooms and other psychedelics in Alaska, along with additional crucial information that every psychonaut or psychedelic user should know about.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Alaska?
Magic mushrooms are illegal in Alaska. As much as advocacy groups have tried to raise awareness of their medicinal benefits, lawmakers turn a blind eye.
Sec. 11.71.150 classifies psychedelics as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means that selling, possessing, or producing psilocybin can lead to time in prison.
On the other hand, mushroom spores are legal as they do not contain any illicit components.
Related: Where are Magic Mushrooms Legal?
Do Magic Mushrooms Grow Wild in Alaska?
Various magic mushroom species can be found growing in Alaska, especially around the late summer and fall.
You can find these mushrooms in Fairbanks or Denali, growing on horse droppings and wood chips. In Fairbanks, you can find them in late August in aspen forests before frost arrives.
There are two common species of magic mushrooms commonly found around cow pastures and forests:
Other psilocybin-containing fungi can be found in Alaska, but they’re much rarer and more difficult to find.
What Are the Medicinal Uses of Shrooms?
There is increasing evidence in favor of the therapeutic use of magic mushrooms.
So far, the most promising findings involve the use of psilocybin in the treatment of addiction, cluster headaches, depression, existential anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Is LSD Legal in Alaska?
No. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is illegal in the state of Alaska.
Possession of LSD may bring harsh penalties as it’s considered a Schedule I restricted substance (the highest tier for illegal substances in the United States).
If the police catch you with 300 milligrams of acid or more, you would be committing a felony and spend several years in prison.
Is MDMA Legal in Alaska?
No. MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly) is illegal throughout the country.
According to AS 11.71.120 (c), molly is a Schedule II substance: in other words, a dangerous drug.
If the police catch you with this substance, you can face charges of up to five years in jail and up to $50,000 in fines.
Is Ketamine Legal in Alaska?
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approves ketamine as an intravenous anesthetic agent.
It’s also legal in a medical setting to treat clinical depression and PTSD.
County law considers it to be a Schedule III controlled substance. Therefore, it is deemed to have a lower potential for abuse than drugs or other substances in classifications I and II.
If you’re found in possession of this substance illegally, you can end up in jail for up to a year.
What’s the Difference Between Legalization & Decriminalization
Many people believe that decriminalization and legalization are the same. This is a mistake, and it’s essential to understand their differences.
When a particular illegal activity is decriminalized, it means that penalties are significantly reduced.
Conversely, legalization repeals all penalties and legal consequences, often providing a legal environment for the activity. There may still be regulations and stipulations, however. This is the case with marijuana — which is legalized, but there are restrictions on how much you can buy and how old you need to be to buy it.
Key Takeaways: What’s the Future of Psychedelics in Alaska?
At the moment, Alaska shows no interest in decriminalizing psychedelics.
However, there’s a constant push by USA psychedelic advocates (many of whom are scientists studying the field) to legalize them, and the results are noticeable.
While we don’t think we’ll see a change in drug laws in Alaska soon, it will happen sooner or later.
