Marijuana barbecue sauce, anyone?

As Alaska's cannabis cultivators and marijuana stores slowly come online, dozens of marijuana products — from brownies to lotion to high-potency concentrates — are being developed for the Alaska market.

Five businesses have been approved to make edibles and concentrates so far. Three of them — Frozen Budz in Fairbanks, Einstein Labs in Anchorage and Top Hat Concentrates in Juneau — can make edibles, concentrates, tinctures and other products like salves and lotions with their product-manufacturing license approved by the Marijuana Control Board.

The other two, Babylon Company and R.C. Tinderbox, both in Anchorage, have  licenses limiting them to production of marijuana concentrates only.

Just after 9 a.m. Monday, Frank Berardi waited in the entryway of the Fairbanks International Airport Police and Fire Department building. Sean Martines, chief of police and fire for the airport, arrived a few minutes later. He shook Berardi's hand.

"I've got some marijuana for you," Martines said.

Berardi's marijuana – 8 grams of the strain Pineapple Express – had been taken while he was passing through airport security on July 27, headed to Anchorage on an Alaska Airlines flight, he said. When a Transportation Security Administration agent asked if he had anything breakable in his carry-on bag, Berardi mentioned the jar of marijuana.

Firearm purchases by drug users are prohibited by federal law; Alaska Republican is taken aback.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s husband and sons ordered her a new Benelli 12-gauge shotgun as a gift, but when the Alaska Republican—and enthusiastic duck hunter—went to pick it up, she was puzzled by a question on the federal background form she had to fill out.

The form asked if she used marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes, both of which are legal in Alaska. If she answered yes, she would be unable to get the gun, because federal law prohibits anyone who uses illegal drugs from buying a firearm.

Unless you were living under a rock this week, then you are aware that the number of legal states in America doubled after the election. The states that legalized were of course California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maine. According to the most recent census numbers, those states have a combined population of 49,714,000 people, with California of course making up the bulk of the statistic (38.8 million people live in California).

As communities across Alaska try to figure out how to handle the new legalized marijuana industry, many are opting out.

In October, North Pole voters decided not to allow commercial marijuana businesses within city limits. 

That decision, however, has been met with disappointment from one of the city's most famous residents: Santa Claus. 

Santa Claus, formerly known as Thomas O'Connor, legally changed his name to Santa in 2005. He says the moniker helps with his work as a child advocate. 

"It sounds ridiculous but it's true. It helps," Santa says.

He's served as an elected city council member in North Pole for almost a year.

Before that he worked in government, specializing in security and law enforcement.

As communities across Alaska try to figure out how to handle the new legalized marijuana industry, many are opting out.

Among those just saying no is the tiny town of North Pole, and that's not sitting well with the town's most famous resident: Santa Claus has put medical marijuana on his "nice" list.

The man who legally changed his name to "Santa Claus" is deeply religious, a monk, and a child advocate. That's why he changed his name. 

"It sounds ridiculous but it's true. It helps," Santa says.  

He's served as an elected city council member in North Pole for almost a year.

Before that he worked in government, specializing in security and law enforcement.

They weren't giving away marijuana, but that didn't stop dozens from lining up hours in advance for the opening of Alaska's first pot shop on Saturday.

Residents of Valdez are calling their community "the highest little town at sea level," KTVA reported.

People in Alaska see the opening of Herbal Outfitters as a historic event in their state.

Mike Holcombe was chosen to be the first inside the shop, and called the moment "monumental."

Alaska’s growing marijuana industry is attracting workers, but proposed regulations for employees that many have deemed too harsh may keep industry hopefuls from entering the field.

State Marijuana Control Board Chairman Peter Mlynarik said the rules are meant to ensure new hires have some sort of background check. But critics question why they are inconsistent with those required for similar worker permits for Alaska’s alcohol businesses.

Steven Cehula, who plans on working in the industry, said the proposed rules for occupational licensing “are incongruent with the voice of the people and unfair.”

Alaska's new rules could be strictest in the nation.

A hip new industry is attracting excited workers, but ongoing regulations might block some from working in the new field.

To work in a licensed cannabis business in the state of Alaska, employees have to pass a training course for a marijuana handler’s permit. Proposed permit requirements, though, are causing some friction for marijuana industry hopefuls who say the potential rules are “unreasonably impracticable.”

If a new draft is accepted, Alaska marijuana handler card requirements would be the strictest in the country and be inconsistent with similar Alaska alcohol employee permits.

Although no retail cannabis has been approved for store shelves in Alaska, Anchorage's first marijuana shop opened its doors on Thursday.

Arctic Herbery is currently only stocked with a variety of pipes, rolling papers and bongs, but customers said even without cannabis for sale, they’re still leaving satisfied. That’s because the owner is giving away “free samples” of product to customers 21 years and older.

Owner Bryant Thorp said because he’s not officially using an operating marijuana license yet, he’s allowed to give away free marijuana.

“When you hand someone a joint or a nug, they kind of get excited about it,” said Thorp.