Arizona Passes Prop 207 to Become the 13th State to Legalize Marijuana

Dan Kingston July 1, 2023 AZ Cannabis News

Arizona has become the 13^th state to legalize marijuana after voters passed Proposition 207 on Nov 3, 2020 by 60% to 40%. 2,392,016 votes were recorded. The new law is known as the Smart and Safe Arizona Act.

The ballots for Prop 207 were certified by the Arizona Secretary of State on Nov 30, 2020, officially making the voter-approved ballot measure a new law.

“It’s decriminalized once the initiative passes and is certified by the Secretary of State, but legal sales won’t begin until around March of 2021,” Campaign Manager for Smart and Safe Arizona Stacy Pearson told 12 News.

Recreational marijuana possession and consumption became legal for adults 21 and older in Arizona when the ballots were certified. Adults 21 and older can now legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana with no more than 5 grams being concentrates (extracts). Limited home cultivation is also now legal.

On January 22, dispensaries started legally selling marijuana to adults 21 and older. Adults can buy up to one ounce of marijuana daily from a dispensary, with no more than 5 grams being concentrates (extracts).

4 Facts About Prop 207:

• Allows adults 21 and older to buy and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana with no more than 5 grams being concentrates (extracts).

• Limits personal home cultivation to six cannabis plants per individual’s primary residence and twelve plants at a residence where two or more persons 21 or older reside.

• A 16% excise tax (similar to alcohol and tobacco) is imposed on recreational cannabis sold at state-licensed dispensaries. The tax revenue will fund various state agencies and community programs. (Medical marijuana patients will not have to pay the 16% excise tax.)

• Marijuana use is still illegal in public places, but is only a petty offense for any offenders.

In many states, the launch of a recreational marijuana industry has improved the states’ medical marijuana programs by reducing the annual medical marijuana card fee and by reducing the cost for medical marijuana.

The new industry should generate thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in annual revenue that will improve the state.

“This is a monumental achievement for Arizonans,” AZmarijuana.com stated. “This law will create new jobs, new revenue for state programs, and give law enforcement more time to focus on preventing and solving real crimes instead of on people who are just using or possessing small amounts of marijuana.”

Arizona was one of four states that voted on legalizing recreational marijuana this November.