When Alaskans voted in 2014 to legalize recreational marijuana, they did so under the belief — repeated often by proponents and echoed in media — that cannabis taxes would support education. Voters were assured our state would follow Colorado’s example, where marijuana revenue helps fund public schools and student success. Instead, a decade later, Alaska’s marijuana tax policy tells a very different story — one of political sleight of hand, broken promises, and misused public trust.

Colorado, the nation’s early pioneer in legalization, implemented a straightforward and transparent system: marijuana sales would be taxed, and a defined portion of that revenue would go directly to education. Over $620 million has since gone to school construction, capital improvements, and other K–12 infrastructure projects through Colorado’s BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) program. These weren’t vague pledges. They were codified into law and constitutionally protected. Voters could see where the money was going, and they saw results in their classrooms.

In Alaska, we were told to expect the same. Advocates painted a vision of a thriving regulated market that would not only reduce crime but would provide tangible benefits for our children and communities — especially our schools. But when the tax structure was implemented, that vision disappeared.

Today, Alaska collects between $28 million and $30 million annually from marijuana excise taxes, levied at $50 per ounce on cultivated flower. But how is that money used?

State law mandates that:

50% goes to the Recidivism Reduction Fund, which supports prison reentry programs, substance abuse treatment in correctional facilities, and other criminal justice programs.

25% goes to the Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund, mostly aimed at public health campaigns and substance use prevention.

The remaining 25% goes to the general fund, where it can be used for anything the Legislature chooses.

Noticeably absent from this list is our K–12 public schools.

Despite the promises made, not a single dollar is directly dedicated to classroom instruction, teacher pay, building maintenance, or even basic educational resources for students. The term “education” was loosely used to describe prevention programs or youth outreach — important work, certainly, but not what voters understood or were led to believe they were funding.

In contrast, Anchorage voters passed Proposition 14 in 2023 to direct local marijuana tax revenue toward early education, childcare, and after-school programs. This local effort is the closest we’ve come to honoring that original pledge. Yet even this does not touch the public school system’s core funding, which remains under increasing pressure.

Meanwhile, Alaska’s public schools are facing historic underfunding. Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently vetoed nearly $51 million in education funding passed by the Legislature — further straining classrooms already short on resources. It is deeply frustrating that, even as the state benefits from cannabis tax revenue, lawmakers continue to withhold critical funding from our public schools.

This isn’t just a policy failure — it’s a breach of trust. The public was promised one thing and delivered another. If our leaders had followed Colorado’s example, Alaska’s schools might be benefiting from a reliable stream of funding to improve infrastructure, support teachers, and enhance student outcomes.

Instead, we’ve allowed bureaucratic priorities to overrule public will. The result is a marijuana tax structure that props up state agencies while leaving our schools to fend for themselves.

It’s time to fix this.

We must call on the Legislature to amend the marijuana tax statute to ensure that a defined percentage — just as in Colorado — is directly appropriated to K–12 education. Not loosely defined prevention programs. Not discretionary general funds. But real support for Alaska’s students, teachers, and school buildings.

Alaskans voted to legalized marijuana in part because we believed it would make Alaska stronger. That did not happen. But voters deserve transparency, accountability, and action — not empty campaign slogans.

Working to find ways to fund education, Rep. Sarah Vance introduced an amendment — House Bill 91 — that would direct 25% of marijuana tax revenue to Alaska’s K–12 public education system. This bill represents a critical first step toward honoring the original intent behind legalization by ensuring a portion of cannabis revenue supports classrooms, teachers, and student needs. Unfortunately, HB 91 is currently stalled in the House Finance Committee, awaiting further action.

Cassie Lawver is chair of Alaska Patriots.