Arizona Medical Marijuana Law: Getting A Medical Marijuana Card

Read this article that simplifies how to legally get a medical marijuana card: Arizona Medical Marijuana Law: “Getting A Medical Marijuana Card”

Proposition 203: the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act

Proposition 203, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, was passed in November of 2010. It protects terminally or seriously ill patients from state prosecution for using limited amounts of marijuana on their doctor’s recommendation. Qualifying patients who register with the Arizona Department of Health Services will obtain marijuana from nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and caregivers regulated by Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).

Read Proposition 203: the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, or download it here.

Since the passing of Prop 203, the ADHS has developed statewide rules for patients, caregivers and dispensaries. These rules regulate who can use, grow, sell and buy medical marijuana. It also set the processes, time lines, and fees associated with registration cards.

Medical Marijuana Patient Law

Medical marijuana patients in Arizona must have one of the qualifying conditions, have a doctor’s recommendation, must be registered with the Arizona Department of Health Services, and must pay the appropriate fee.

Medical Marijuana Caregiver Law

Arizona will allow registered individuals to act as caregivers for medical marijuana patients. Caregivers can provide medical marijuana to up to five patients and are allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants per patient, as long as the patient lives over 25 miles away from a dispensary and the caregiver does so in accordance to the State and City caregiver cultivation rules. Caregivers and their patients must be registered with the State and must pay the associated fees.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary and Cultivation Laws

Arizona will have a total of 126 dispensaries, 1 medical marijuana dispensary for every 10 pharmacy permits in the State. The Arizona Department of Health Services will begin accepting applications for dispensaries on June 1st, 2011 and it plans to have the first licenses issued by August or September. The 126 licenses will be picked at random in a in a lottery-style process. Applicants that want to participate must submit an application along with all appropriate documentation and a non-refundable $5,000 application fee.

Click here to download the Arizona Department of Health Services Final Rules for Medical Marijuana

Arizona’s medical marijuana law does not protect people that are not registered with the State as a patient, caregiver, dispensary, or infusion business. CURRENT CRIMINAL MARIJUANA LAWS APPLY! Don’t think that marijuana is legal or anyone can possess or use it. Again, only those that are registered are protected! Arizona has some of the toughest criminal marijuana laws in the United States. Even first time possession or use charges can carry steep fines, mandatory jail time and possibly felony charges.

Click here to learn more about Arizona’s marijuana criminal laws.

View marijuana related arrest statistics in Arizona and nationwide.