Arizona Medical Marijuana Card

Is weed legal in Arizona? Yes, you will find that today both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana in Arizona are legal. Those who may be looking into getting an Arizona medical marijuana card will find that it could be beneficial, even though they may not technically need a card since marijuana is legalized in Arizona. 

If you’re considering getting an MMJ card in AZ, you’ll find that the process is easier than you may think.

Understanding Arizona Medical Marijuana Cards

A medical card in AZ will allow you to buy your marijuana from medical dispensaries throughout the state. Even though recreational weed in Arizona is legal, having one of these cards can still provide you with some benefits. You will find that it can provide added employment protection and housing protection for starters.

Patients who are between 18 and 20 can still qualify for a medical card, whereas only those who are 21 and older can buy marijuana in Arizona.

One of the other benefits of choosing to get a medical marijuana card in AZ is that it tends to provide lower overall costs. Additionally, the lines tend to be shorter in the medical dispensaries. Often, the quality of the products, being medical-grade, is higher.

Taxes are lower, too. The tax for recreational Arizona recreational marijuana is 16%. However, for medical marijuana, the taxes are only going to be 8%, so there will be some nice savings there over time. As you can see, there are some great benefits to getting your medical marijuana card.

Getting a Medical Card in Arizona

How do you get a card for medical marijuana in Arizona? First, you will need to be sure you meet the criteria. This starts with the qualifying conditions, which we list below. You have to meet with a licensed physician who can confirm that MMJ will benefit your condition.

Once they do, they will give you the recommendation you need to apply for your card online or in the mail.

Additionally, you must be an Arizona resident. To qualify as an adult, you will need to be at least 18 years old. However, minors can obtain a marijuana medical card, as long as a parent or guardian registers as their caregiver.

If you meet those requirements, it should not be a problem for you to get certification and apply for your card.

Weed Legality in Arizona

The legalization of medical marijuana was passed by voters in Arizona in November of 2010 with Proposition 203. It narrowly passed with just 50.13% of the vote. In 2011, the first regulations for the registry identification cards and dispensaries were finalized by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

When you have your Arizona medical cannabis card, you will be able to buy up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana every two weeks. No more than 12.5 grams of this can be in the form of cannabis concentrate. If you are found to have more than this amount, it is considered a petty offense.

There are no rules or regulations when it comes to the potency of medical marijuana. It can often be quite potent. However, there are still some basic rules that you need to follow. Even if you have a medical marijuana card, you can’t use marijuana in public places.

Patients in Arizona have had access to medical marijuana for many years, but it is only recently that the state made recreational marijuana in Arizona legal.

Arizona Recreational Laws

Arizona recreational marijuana was legalized for 2021 following the election from 2020. This has changed the way a lot of things work in the state when it comes to marijuana use, as it is no longer considered criminal. Additionally, expungement is now legal in the state, which can help to clear a marijuana offense from a criminal record.

However, just because it is legal does not mean that there are no rules that need to be followed. For starters, only those who are 21 and older can partake in AZ marijuana recreationally. They can possess up to one ounce of marijuana, five grams of concentrated marijuana, or six plants.

Those who possess more than those amounts would still be considered breaking the law. Having between one and 2.5 ounces of marijuana would be a civil offense that would incur a $100 fine.

A second offense would be considered a petty offense, and you would be required to attend eight hours of drug education. Getting a third offense is considered a class 1 misdemeanor.

It’s also important to keep in mind that driving while impaired on marijuana is still a crime, and employers can prohibit marijuana use while working. The employer is still able to maintain a drug-free workplace, just like they can tell you that you can’t drink alcohol at work.

Additionally, you are not allowed to smoke marijuana in public spaces, just as you can’t with Arizona medical marijuana.

How to Get My Medical Marijuana Card in Arizona

The process of getting a medical marijuana card in Arizona is similar to getting a card in many other states. The first thing that you need to do is have a doctor that can diagnose you and determine that you should be certified and given one of these Arizona marijuana cards.

You can work with Elevate Holistics and we can help you find a physician in Arizona that can provide an online discussion and who can help you to get certified.

Keep in mind that when you are applying for your card, you will need to have proof of residency. This could be your state ID or your driver’s license. The cost for the initial card that you receive is $150, and it will be good for two years.

Those who have trouble paying that amount may be able to get a discount if they are on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In those cases, they will only need to pay $75.

Minor patients will have to pay $350 for the application, and they will need to include a caregiver. The caregiver application is an added $200 for adult patients. To be a caregiver in Arizona, you will need to be at least 21 years old, you can’t have ever been convicted of a felony, and the patient you are caring for needs to already be certified by the Arizona Department of Health.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Arizona

As with many other states, to qualify for an AZ medical marijuana card, you will need to have one of the state-approved qualifying medical conditions or symptoms. These include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
  
• Amyotrophic Lateral Disease (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease
• Cachexia, also called Wasting Syndrome
• Cancer
  
• Chronic Pain
  
• Crohn’s Disease
• Glaucoma
  
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
  
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Seizures and Epilepsy
  
• Severe Nausea
• Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms

Arizona Medical Marijuana Card Renewal

Medical marijuana card renewal in Arizona is easy. The renewal will cost the same as the initial card. Although it might seem like a lot of money, it’s important to keep in mind that the card is good for two years. This puts the cost of getting the card about the same as what it costs in other states where they have to renew each year.

Which Dispensaries Are Recreational in Arizona?

Need to know how to buy recreational weed in Arizona? It’s easy as long as you are at least 21.

Today, you can find a wide range of Arizona recreational dispensaries in the state with many of them centered around the Phoenix area and the surrounding communities. Some of the facilities, such as Harvest HOC in Scottsdale are fully recreational. Others, such as Best Dispensary near Mesa offer both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana.

In Arizona, legal marijuana options are plentiful for recreational users. You can find a wide range of different types of products, too. From pre-rolled joints to edibles, there is something that can work for just about everyone. Find Arizona recreational dispensaries near you.

How To Find A Medical Marijuana Dispensary In AZ

The first step to finding a medical marijuana dispensary in AZ is to check out the list of registered dispensaries on the Arizona Department of Health Services website. This list includes all approved dispensaries, their locations, hours of operation, and contact information.

You can also use this list to find out which dispensaries carry specific products and learn about any specials or discounts they may be offering.

You can also search online for medical marijuana dispensaries in your area using sites like Weedmaps or Leafly. These sites offer comprehensive listings of dispensaries near you so you can easily compare prices and product offerings.

Some sites even allow you to read reviews from past customers, helping you choose the best dispensary for your needs.

You can also ask around for recommendations from friends or family members who have experience with medical marijuana in Arizona. Word-of-mouth recommendations are often the most reliable way to ensure that you are getting quality products and services from an established dispensary.

Finding a medical marijuana dispensary in Arizona is not difficult if you know where to look. The state’s Department of Health Services website has an up-to-date list of registered dispensaries that can help you narrow down your choices based on location, hours, products offered, and special discounts or promotions.

Growing Marijuana in Arizona

With all of the changes in Arizona legalization news, you might have missed that it is now also legal to grow your own marijuana in the state. Let’s look at the marijuana growing laws in Arizona to see what you can and can’t do.

According to the law, adults who are at least 21 years old are allowed to grow a limited number of cannabis plants in their homes. They are only allowed to use cannabis for personal use. The law states that adults can grow up to six plants at home and no more than 12 plants in a house with more than one adult.

Arizona Medical Marijuana Reciprocity

The term reciprocity refers to whether a state will recognize out-of-state medical cards. You will find that Arizona offers reciprocity with all other states that have a similar process for registering for medical marijuana. In those cases, people who are visiting Arizona and who have their cards with them will be safe to use their medicine.

Of course, they still need to be sure they are abiding by all of the rules and laws in Arizona for use of marijuana.