Arizona Now Has 3 Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiatives

Arizona has two campaigns seeking to legalize adult-use marijuana via ballot initiative. Both are working on collecting the required number of signatures to get their initiative on the ballots in November 2020.

However, a third initiative is also seeking to legalize recreational cannabis in Arizona, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. This initiative also wants to prevent the state from taxing any marijuana sales at dispensaries.

The most widely accepted initiative is the Smart and Safe Arizona Act. It would allow people 21 or older to possess, use and cultivate marijuana. A modest 16% excise tax would be placed on marijuana sold at to-be-determined recreational dispensaries in Arizona. The tax revenue would fund education, infrastructure and public health.

“They [the Smart and Safe Arizona Act’s campaign] passed 100,000 signatures at the end of December, and we have until June to turn into 237,000. I am expecting 400,000,” said Mikel Weisser.

Weisser feels that this campaign has the best chance of making the ballots and being passed by voters because it has the most support.

The second initiative is also seeking to legalize adult-use marijuana possession, use and cultivation. Sales at dispensaries would be taxed at 16%. But this initiative isn’t as well known as the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, giving it an uphill battle to reach the ballots.

To date, many Arizonans and Arizona dispensaries are supporting the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which gives this initiative the best chance of making the ballot and being voted for.

In 2016, Proposition 205, an initiative attempting to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona, failed 48.23% to 51.77%. This failure was, in part, due to pro-marijuana Arizonans vying for multiple initiatives instead of compromising on Prop 205, which was by far the most popular initiative with the best chance of winning. If Arizonans had joined forces, Prop 205 would have passed and adults in Arizona could have been enjoying legalized recreational cannabis for the past few years.