Answers to Medical Cannabis FAQs

After the passage of Proposition 203 in 2010, the state of Arizona officially legalized the use of medical marijuana for patients with qualifying medical conditions. While the voter’s approval of Proposition 203 was no doubt a monumental step toward improving the lives of countless Arizona residents, many patients remain confused as to what these new medical marijuana laws entail.

By learning all of the important details surrounding medical cannabis law in the state of Arizona, you can be assured that you are treating your medical condition safely, legally and effectively. Continue reading to find answers to several of the most frequently asked questions about medical marijuana in Arizona.

Medical Cannabis Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any question below to find an answer to that specific FAQ. If you have any questions about medical marijuana that you don’t see answered below, you can send us a note online, and our team will be happy to help you out.

  • How much marijuana can I buy in Arizona?
    If you are a qualifying patient and have registered with the Arizona Department of Health Services, or if you are a designated caregiver for a qualifying patient, you are legally allowed to obtain up to 2.5 ounces (roughly 70 grams) of marijuana in a two-week period from a registered nonprofit medical cannabis dispensary (such as Kind Meds).
    Qualifying patients and caregivers do not have to purchase this amount of marijuana in a single transaction. If you would like, you can purchase marijuana every day as long as the total amount remains below the 2.5 ounce limit over a 14-day period.
  • How much marijuana can a qualifying patient possess?
    Qualifying patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at a time. Marijuana edibles such as baked goods and tinctures also count toward the legal limit of 2.5 ounces. However, only the usable amount of marijuana within the edible is counted toward this limit. In other words, a 3-ounce medical marijuana brownie baked with 2 grams of marijuana will not exceed the legal limit.
  • Will I have to pay tax on medical marijuana?
    Yes. As part of the passage of Proposition 203, the state of Arizona applies a 6.6 percent sales tax on every purchase of medical marijuana. Your purchase may also be subject to an additional tax of between 2 and 3 percent, depending on the city in which the dispensary is located.
     
    Fun fact: In 2016 alone, medical marijuana patients in Arizona consumed 29 tons of cannabis, which translated to $29.5 million in tax revenue for various state programs.

  • How will I know if I’m getting medical marijuana?
    There are a number of regulations that determine the labeling requirements of medical marijuana sold in the state of Arizona. Medical marijuana sold in a licensed marijuana dispensary needs to display specific information, such as:

    • Where the medical marijuana came from
    • The amount of medical marijuana in the container/product
    • The specific strain of medical marijuana
    • The date the medical marijuana was manufactured
    • A list of all chemical additives to the medical marijuana
    • The name of the dispensary from which the medical marijuana was sold

    These labeling requirements apply to all products sold by dispensaries, including marijuana flower as well as products containing marijuana – such as edibles, topicals and tinctures. Medical marijuana edibles must display the total weight of the product in addition to the weight of the medical marijuana it contains.

  • Where will a qualifying patient be able to smoke or consume medical marijuana?
    The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act prohibits qualifying patients from consuming marijuana in any form while at a medical marijuana dispensary. Qualifying patients are also prohibited from smoking marijuana in public places such as parks, schools and on public transportation. However, patients are allowed to eat marijuana edibles and other products infused with marijuana in public locations. While it is legal to consume medical marijuana in one’s home and other private locations, property owners can prohibit the use of medical marijuana by guests at their discretion.
  • Which states allow medical marijuana?
    As of 2018, prior to the November midterm elections, 29 states in the U.S. have legalized some form of medical marijuana. These states (and districts) are:

    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Hawaii
    • Illinois
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Montana
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    • Washington
    • Washington, D.C.
    • West Virginia
  • Can I hold a medical marijuana card in more than one state?
    Yes. In order to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Arizona, a qualifying patient must be able to show documentation proving Arizona residency. Acceptable documentation includes:

    • Arizona identification card
    • Arizona driver’s license
    • Photograph page in patient’s passport

    Once a qualified patient is able to prove Arizona residency, he or she must also obtain a written recommendation for medical marijuana from a licensed Arizona physician. If a qualifying patient is able to meet the above requirements, he or she may be issued an Arizona registry identification card.

    Holding a medical marijuana card issued by another state will in no way disqualify a patient from receiving an Arizona registry identification card from the Arizona Department of Health Services. However, please note that your Arizona card will not grant you access to medical marijuana in other states that have approved its use.

  • What can medical marijuana treat?
    While there is a growing body of evidence showing that there are many benefits of medical marijuana for treating a wide range of medical conditions, the state health department will only issue an Arizona registry identification card to individuals diagnosed with the following medical disorders:

    • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
    • Cancer
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Glaucoma
    • Hepatitis C
    • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
    • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
    • Any disease or condition that causes wasting syndrome (cachexia), severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures and persistent muscle spasms

    Arizona state law allows citizens to request the addition of other debilitating medical conditions to the above list. The state reviews all requests twice a year, so new conditions may be added to the list during those two moths (January and July).

  • Is medical marijuana a form of medication?
    It’s hard to say. Medical marijuana refers to the use of the whole marijuana plant, as well as its basic extracts, in order to treat various medical conditions. Under this definition, marijuana is not officially medication, as the U.S. FDA does not recognize the marijuana plant as a form of medicine.

    However, the FDA has approved of two medications that contain a synthetic form of the chemicals found in the marijuana plant. These chemicals, known as cannabinoids, have been shown to possess medicinal qualities, which have been verified through years of scientific research.

Conclusion

We hope that after reading our answers to medical cannabis FAQs, you now have a deep understanding of Arizona’s medical marijuana laws. However, you might still be wondering how medical marijuana helps to treat the symptoms of your medical condition.

Before stopping in to Kind Meds in Mesa, AZ, we invite you to review our Medical Cannabis Strains Guide to get familiar with which types of marijuana will help with your specific symptoms. If you’re still not sure, our expert budtenders will be ready to help you find answers.
 
See Our Cannabis Strains Guide

Further Questions? Contact Us

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Get My Medical Marijuana Card

It can be challenging to qualify and apply for a medical Marijuana card in Arizona. So we broke it down into 4 easy-to-follow steps.
 
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