Arizonans Bought $280 Million of Medical Marijuana in 2016

In 2016, Arizona’s 114,000 registered medical marijuana patients purchased nearly 29 tons of marijuana. The sales generated nearly $30 million in tax revenue and $280 million on overall sales. Because Arizona’s recreational marijuana ballot initiative, Proposition 205, failed last November, Arizonans have started searching for medical marijuana doctors to get their Arizona medical marijuana card.

Sales numbers, as well as the Arizona medical marijuana patient base, are expected to grow again this year, reports Fox 10. Sales in December were the highest throughout all of 2016.

Lilach Mazor Power of the Giving Tree Wellness Center dispensary said, “I think a lot of people were waiting to see if it’s going to pass. It’s a lot easier for ‘hey I’m going to try cannabis for whatever medical conditions.’”

In regards to the rapid influx of interest in medical marijuana cards, Mazor Power said, “We saw it that day after how many calls our front desk at both locations got. ‘How do I get my card, where can I go, can you send me details?’”

Experts predict that if marijuana becomes recreationally legal in Arizona that the sales and tax dollars collected could more than triple.