Regulatory Framework
The Bureau of Marijuana Licensing regulates the commercial production and sales of adult-use and medical marijuana in Arizona [1]. The Bureau is overseen by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
Legal Status
| Market | Status | Statute | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult-Use | Legal | Proposition 207, Smart and Safe Act [5] | 2020 |
| Medical | Legal | Proposition 203, Medicinal Marijuana Initiative [14] | 2010 |
Track-and-Trace
Licenses are required to have their own track-and-trace systems [2]. There is no statewide track-and-trace system mandated by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) [15].
Licensing
There are four types of cannabis licenses in Arizona [10].
| License Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Marijuana Establishment | MEs are permitted for vertical integration including: cultivation, processing, and selling cannabis to consumers. [10]. |
| Medical Marijuana Dispensary | Non-profit organization that sells medical cannabis to patients [10]. |
| Social Equity Dispensary | A dispensary where at least 51% ownership is held by individuals convicted of or closely related to someone convicted of cannabis-related offenses in Arizona [10]. |
| Testing Laboratory | Independently analyze cannabis and medical cannabis products [10]. |
Possession Limits
| Item | Possession Limit |
|---|---|
| Adult-Use | Up to one ounce of flower cannabis, five grams of concentrate form, or 12 grams of some combination of the two [6]. |
| Medical Use | The "allowable amount of marijuana" varies depending on the patient's condition [6]. |
Medical Cannabis
Adults over 18 with a physician's recommendation can apply for a medical marijuana card. Minors under 18 with a qualifying condition can obtain medical marijuana through a registered caregiver who is their parent or guardian [12].
Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Arizona include: [11]
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn's Disease
- Agitation of Alzheimer's disease
- Chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions that cause:
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe and chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
Additional Resources
- Wikpedia: Cannabis in Arizona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Arizona
- Arizona Department of Revenue Marijuana Tax Collection Reports https://azdor.gov/reports-statistics-and-legal-research/marijuana-tax-collection
- Arizona Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp program https://agriculture.az.gov/plantsproduce/industrial-hemp-program
References
- [1] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/marijuana/
- [2] https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1r/bills/sb1466s.htm (Arizona SB 1466)
- [5] https://azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/adult-use-marijuana
- [6] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/marijuana/
- [10] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/marijuana/ (Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) - Bureau of Marijuana Licensing)
- [11] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/medical-marijuana/index.php#faqs-patients (Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS))
- [12] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/medical-marijuana/index.php#qualifying-patients-under-eightteen (Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS))
- [14] https://www.ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Proposition_203,_Medicinal_Marijuana_Initiative_(2010)
- [15] https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-seed-to-sale-software-giant-metrc-pivots-focus-to-companies/
- [16] https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/marijuana/adult-use-marijuana/index.php