Fact Checked by Doctor NameArizona has done a lot in recent years to change its laws about weed. In 2010, voters approved cannabis for recreational and medical use; in 2020, adults can use it for fun.
But Arizona’s marijuana rules are still hard to understand, and you can’t use it in public, have too much of it, or drive while high.
This guide covers everything concerning legal cannabis usage in the state.
Arizona Marijuana Law – Is Marijuana Legal in Arizona?
Table of Contents
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA), Proposition 203, was passed in 2010. This started the state’s medicinal marijuana programme.
The Act made it legal for people with certain medical illnesses to use cannabis. Just 4,341 votes passed it out of 1.67 million total votes.
To qualify, people must get a signed diagnosis from a qualified doctor that they have one of the allowed diseases, such as:
For Adults Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions Include:
- AIDS/HIV
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pain, Muscle Pain and Other Types of Pain
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C)
- Muscle Spasms
- Seizures and Seizure Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Patients can apply for a medical marijuana card from the Arizona Department of Health Services with their doctor’s approval.
Cardholders can buy up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis from approved shops every two weeks and keep it on their person.
There are currently more than 270,000 registered medical marijuana patients in the state.
The program has grown slowly each year, and in 2020, there will be a big jump in the number of new patients and people who want to join.
Schools, renters, and jobs can’t treat qualified medical patients differently because they use cannabis.
But smoking medical marijuana in public is still against the law in Arizona, except in certain bars. Criminals will be fined $300.
Consumption is only allowed in secret places that the public can’t see. Even medical use is against the rules on college campuses and in prisons.
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Recreational Marijuana Law in Arizona
In November 2020, nearly 60% of Arizona voters supported Proposition 207, which legalized the sale and use of cannabis for recreational purposes.
It’s also called the “Smart and Safe Arizona Act,” and it lets people over 21:
- Cannabis up to 1 ounce
- Up to 5 grammes of concentrates
- Cultivate up to 6 plants at home (max of 12 per household)
The bill also allowed approved shops to sell marijuana for adults starting in January 2021.
It lets people use cannabis in bars, but none have opened yet. On top of the regular sales tax, a 16% excise tax is added to all purchases of recreational marijuana.
Through planning, cities and towns can ban shops and clubs for legal use if they want to.
Public service outside these places is still against the law, and a $300 fine will be given. Landlords can also say no to cannabis in their own homes.
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Cannabis Possession and Cultivation Limits in Arizona
For people 21 and over, Arizona’s marijuana laws permit:
- Having up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower
- Having up to 5 grams of concentrated cannabis
- Grow up to 6 plants at home (maximum 12).
More than these amounts may lead to criminal charges.
You can be charged with a crime if you plan to sell or give away more than 2.5 ounces. Higher numbers are only authorised with medicinal marijuana cards.
Home growing must happen in a locked space and can’t be seen from public places.
Young people can’t get to plants. Local governments can add rules but need help to stop people from growing their plants.
Marijuana Purchasing Limits in Arizona
In Arizona, cannabis can only be sold officially at shops that have a license.
Every two weeks, medical marijuana patients can buy up to 2.5 ounces of flowers. People who use it for fun are only allowed 1 ounce per day.
There are many different kinds of cannabis goods available at dispensaries, from standard flowers to oils, sweets, medicines, and more.
These are limited in strength and usage. Due to high demand, most shops that sell marijuana for legal use now require that you order ahead of time through their websites or apps.
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Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana in Arizona
Arizona has a “zero tolerance” marijuana DUI policy. A DUI charge can happen if there is even a bit of THC in the blood.
Penalties include fines, losing your license, going to jail, and attending classes or therapy.
Recent data from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety showed that more than 12% of drivers out late on the weekends tested positive for THC.
Police departments, like the Phoenix Police Department, have put a lot of money into new tools like mouth fluid tests to make it easier to catch people driving under the influence of cannabis.
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Public Use Restrictions of Weed in Arizona
For both medical and casual users under 21, it is still against the law to use weed in public.
Those who break the rule must pay a civil fine of $300. Landlords and hotels can also make it illegal to use cannabis on their property.
It is not allowed in restaurants, bars, parks, streets, open areas, and other places where smoking and vaping are not allowed.
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Federal Lands Ban in Arizona
In government-controlled places like national parks, museums, woods, and airports, it is still against the law to have or use any amount of cannabis.
Violators still face federal punishment.
Most Arizona hotels and places to rent also don’t let you use there.
Cannabis Lounges in Arizona
Proposition 207 legalized the use of marijuana in regulated cannabis consumption lounges. But no state licenses have been given out because rules are still being made.
Some cities have already started to ban clubs by changing their zoning laws.
Home Cultivation Disputes in Arizona
Some problems have come up when cities and towns have tried to ban or limit home farming even more than what is allowed by USA states marijuana laws.
Local bans on growing plants at home are being fought in the courts.
Cannabis Industry Growth in Arizona
Arizona’s legal marijuana economy has expanded despite laws. First year of legalisation, state sold $1 billion in cannabis.
Already, tax income has been tens of millions of dollars more than expected, which is suitable for education and health services in the state.
As the business grows, politicians will likely feel more pressure to loosen public use and licensing rules in the coming years.
References:
- https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Proposition_203,_Medicinal_Marijuana_Initiative_(2010)
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prop-203-passes-medical-marijuana-to-be-legal-in-arizona/
- https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/medical-marijuana/index.php
- https://www.mpp.org/states/arizona/
