Marijuana Laws and Policies in Arizona 2020
The cannabis scene in the warm state of Arizona is quite difficult to grasp and understand. For one, it is actually legal to use both medical and recreational cannabis within the Grand Canyon State’s borders. So how exactly does the state balance their cannabis activities with its regulatory framework? There is surely a lot to expect from Arizona’s marijuana industry. Let’s uncover all the things we know about this proud state’s weed market!
History of Cannabis in Arizona
Before becoming legal in the state, Arizona’s legislative body had to undergo a number of efforts and changes in its laws to get where it is today. In the year 1996, the majority of Arizona voters and citizens voted in favor of Proposition 200. This policy, called the Drug Medicalization, Prevention, and Control Act, allowed those patients who carried prescriptions from doctors to make use of medical marijuana.
However, due to the conflict in wordings provided in the policy (“prescribe” rather than “recommend”), the use of medical marijuana did not materialize the way people expected it to.
In the year 2002, another effort to legalize cannabis for medical use was attempted via Proposition 203. However, the policy did not garner enough votes at the time which rendered it repealed. In 2010, Proposition 203 was again subjected to the votes of Arizona’s citizens.
This time, the policy was approved of by a slim margin of 50.13%. The subsequent law established an operational framework and guidelines for the use and distribution of medical marijuana within Arizona. The first sale of medical marijuana took place in the year 2012.
Legalization of recreational cannabis:
Just very recently, in November 2020, Proposition 207 contained the Smart and Safe Act in the voting ballot for citizens. This policy aimed to finally legalize the use and consumption of recreational cannabis by adults who were 21 years or older.
The approval of this law also placed a 16% excise tax on the sale of cannabis, making it a regular commodity in the market. Additionally, criminal charges and offenses related to the possession of marijuana were allowed to be nullified through due process.
Cannabis Regulation Body
Under the laws of Proposition 203, which was the bill that legalized medical marijuana, the state of Arizona tasked the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to establish and come up with the subsequent rules and regulations that govern the state’s medical marijuana program.
Through the ADHS, medical patients and respective caregivers must first submit their applications and comply with the necessary requirements before being authorized to partake in the medical marijuana program.
Medical Cannabis
Patients, with or without the help of their respective caregivers, must first obtain a written prescription from a qualified physician before being able to buy marijuana seeds in Arizona make use of medical marijuana to treat their conditions. The maximum amount that an attending physician is allowed to prescribe to their patients is 2.5 ounces (70.87 grams) of marijuana for a 14-day period.
Additionally, patients must also possess an medical marijuana ID (issued by the ADHS) in order to be able to transact any deals related to medical marijuana in the state of Arizona.
Under Measure 2, the following conditions qualify for the use of medical marijuana:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain and Discomfort
- Crohn’s Disease
- Epilepsy and other seizure conditions
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple Sclerosis and debilitating Muscle Spasms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Like many other states out there, this list is not exclusive. Other conditions that are not listed above may also be qualified for medical marijuana treatment. This is subject to the approval of the ADHS.
It is also worth noting that medical marijuana reciprocity is allowed in the state of Arizona. If you are a visitor who possesses a medical marijuana ID issued from another state or vice versa, you are permitted to buy marijuana seeds in Arizona and medical marijuana supplies from Arizona-mandated retailers and suppliers.
Legal Age, Purchasing, and Possession of Cannabis
Legal age:
Because the legalization of recreational cannabis was approved very recently, there are still no concrete laws that govern its distribution and operations. As such, no frameworks states the allowed minimum age for Arizona citizens to make use of recreational weed. But sources provide that adults who are 21 years old and above are permitted to buy marijuana seeds in Arizona, and cultivate marijuana for recreational purposes. This is the accepted age limit in today’s cannabis market.
On the other hand, citizens and medical patients who are at least 18 years old and above are generally allowed to make use of medical marijuana within the state.
Purchasing locations and possession limits:
Residents of Arizona who are of the legal minimum age are authorized to possess and purchase up to 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of marijuana flowers and 5 grams of cannabis extracts and concentrates for recreational purposes.
Medical patients, along with their caregivers, who are duly registered with the Arizona Department of Health Services are authorized to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces (70.87 grams) of medical marijuana for a 14-day period. Keep in mind that these limits apply regardless if you are in your own private households or out in public.
There are currently no establishments or dispensaries that distribute cannabis for recreational purposes. But there are quite a number of medical marijuana dispensaries scattered across all of the state. All supplies of medical weed must only be obtained from state-licensed distributors and retailers.
Consumption and Cultivation of Cannabis
Consumption limits:
The use and consumption of marijuana for recreational purposes must always be done in private. It is illegal to smoke and consume any form of cannabis products in places such as public parks, schools, churches, offices, or anywhere that usually serves as a gathering pace for large volumes of people. As such, your best option is to use your recreational weed in your households or privately-owned lots and properties. There are currently no establishments that allow the on-site use of recreational cannabis.
Cannabis cultivation:
Cannabis cultivation, as stated above, is allowed for medical patients who reside in an area that is at least 25 miles away from the nearest functional medical dispensary. Caregivers, on the other hand, are allowed to grow medical marijuana plants for up to 5 patients under their care.
And more recently, the state laws have finally made way for the legalization of recreational weed through Proposition 207! The cannabis industry found there is only bound to improve more and more!
