Arizona has a population of over 7 million people, and it has been recorded that over 3% of the residents are registered users of medical Marijuana. In 2010, Arizona enacted Proposition 203, which led to the legalization of Marijuana for medical use. The state is one of the earliest places to move such legalization, which today more cities have followed.
The Arizona Department of Health sees to it that the use of medical Marijuana remains safe and regulated. For that reason, certain measurements were put into action, such as requiring an Arizona medical marijuana card for residents.
There are certain nuances in the proposition which might be hard to comprehend, so to help you, here are some of the most important features of the medical marijuana proposition in Arizona.
Strict Requirement of a Medical Marijuana Card
There are over 50 marijuana dispensaries in Arizona. However, you would not be able to purchase even a gram of the medicine if you do not have an Arizona medical marijuana card. The government requires that persons interested to get the card to undergo several procedures and eligibility requirements.
How to be eligible
There are three qualification requirements for a medical marijuana card: age, residency, and condition. These three should be strictly met as the loss of one would not entitle you to the benefit of a medical card.
The age qualification requires the patient to be over 18. The residency requirement, on the other hand, requires that the patient should show proof of residence through documents such as a driver’s license, government-issued ID, or passport bearing an Arizona residential address.
The third requirement is probably the most difficult as the proposition states that the list of conditions that the patient must have is exclusive. Some of the conditions eligible for a card are cancer, glaucoma, HIV, and AIDS. On the other hand, those who suffer from severe nausea, epilepsy, spasms, and PTSD can also register for a medical marijuana card.
Medical Marijuana Caregiver
There are also additional protections and benefits that the proposition provides for medical marijuana patients. Technically, while only those aged 18 and above are legible, any younger patient can still apply only when they have their legal guardian registered as a caregiver. Dispensaries can also provide patients the necessary caregiver themselves for as long as the user does not live more than 25 miles away from them.
Restrictions on the use of Marijuana
While the proposition has moved for the legalization of Marijuana, there are also certain safeguards that the government enacts to avoid abuse of the substance. Any person not registered in the Arizonian registry as patient, dispensary, or caregiver will be liable under criminal marijuana laws. The possession, production, and use of Marijuana without being registered will count as a felony, which is why it is important to process a medical card first.
The benefit of Card Renewal
A medical marijuana card is not valid forever as it will expire on the date listed on the right-hand side of the card. It is important to take note and start the renewal process 90 days before the expiry date.
Applying for a medical marijuana card in Arizona is pretty straightforward if you are interested in acquiring one; make sure to follow the simple steps.
