Utqiagvik council packet lists marijuana tax amendment, without a rate

The Utqiagvik City Council is set to take up an amendment to the city's marijuana tax on Saturday, Aug. 1.

The packet lists "Ordinance Amending Marijuana Tax-v2" as agenda item 6, the second version of a measure introduced at the July 23 meeting. The measure is Ordinance 03-2026.

Any city tax would layer on existing state levies. State law imposes a $12.50-an-ounce excise tax on marijuana transferred from a cultivation facility and a 6 percent sales tax on retail sales to consumers. Utqiagvik's general sales tax is 3 percent, with a use tax at the same rate on property purchased outside the city and used within it.

Other Alaska communities have taken different approaches. Anchorage voters approved a 5 percent tax on retail marijuana sales in 2016, later implemented through city ordinance. The Northwest Arctic Borough levies an excise tax on marijuana brought into or cultivated in the borough for commercial use, with separate rates for bud, flower, plant remainder and manufactured products.

The ordinance is listed on the meeting packet for Saturday's council session.