Gov. Ducey Signs Bill Making Arizona Marijuana Cards Valid for 2 Years

Dan Kingston June 8, 2019 Arizona Cannabis News

Governor Doug Ducey signed SB1494 into law late Friday. The bill makes Arizona medical marijuana cards valid for two years instead of one and also requires Arizona dispensaries to test their cannabis for toxins by a third-party lab.

Arizona medical marijuana cards are now valid for two years, AZ Mirror reported. This will save patients from the $150 annual state fee as well as a varying $60-$150 annual visit to a medical marijuana doctor. SB 1494 goes into effect August 27, 2019.

SB1494 states: “All registry identification cards and registration certificates expire two years after their date of issue.”

SB1494 also requires the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to create standards for third-party labs to test medical marijuana grown in the state for contaminates and toxins such as mold, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Mandatory testing will begin on Nov 1, 2020. Independent third-party testing labs would face a state application fee of up to $5,000 and a renewal fee of up to $1,000 to operate.

Arizonans with at least one qualifying health condition can obtain a medical marijuana card. Arizona’s qualifying conditions are:

Chronic pain (back pain, arthritis, etc)
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV
AIDS
Hepatitis C
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Crohn’s disease
Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes:
Cachexia or wasting syndrome
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Severe nausea
Seizures, including those from epilepsy
Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis