Beginners Guide to Medical Marijuana in Arizona

In 2010, the state of Arizona passed Proposition 203 which legalized the possession and use of marijuana for Arizona residents with certain medical conditions such as cancer, seizures and HIV and many more.

Having a medical marijuana card or acting as a caregiver for someone who uses medical marijuana does not mean that you are exempt from all Arizona state laws and regulations. To protect yourself from undue stress and/or legal problems it is important to know and understand the Arizona medical marijuana regulations.

When the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program was launched, the state of Arizona created guidelines regarding who is eligible and limits regarding cannabis possession.

• Patients and caregivers will be fingerprinted and may not be a registered felon. Eligibility is revoked if a medical marijuana card holder is convicted of a felony.
• Card holders may legally possess up to 2.5oz of marijuana or marijuana-infused edibles.
• It is unlawful to possess or use medical marijuana near or on school grounds and correctional facilities and in public places.
• If a patient lives more than 25 miles from a certified dispenser, patients or their caregivers can cultivate up to 12 plants in closed, locked facility.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to cultivate your own marijuana plants, you can verify through the Arizona Department of Health Services Medical Marijuana Boundary Check. Additionally, patients and caregivers who are cultivating their own plants are still allowed to purchase products from a dispensary.

While Arizona has joined the growing list of states that have reformed its marijuana law to help those with debilitating diseases it is still illegal to drive or go to work while under the influence. If you are stopped for suspicion of DUI, law enforcement can execute a field sobriety test and charge you with a DUI or OWI. Charges related to a DUI/OUI can add up quickly and if you are not carefully following state guidelines these charges can result in your medical marijuana eligibility being revoked.