Arizona Medical Marijuana Program

FAQs

Use the links below to find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program. This is a developing program, so there may be things referenced in the FAQs that are not available yet. We suggest you bookmark this site and check back periodically to find the information you need.

General  |  Cultivation  |  Cities and Towns  |  Dispensaries  |  Physicians

Qualifying Patients  |  Designated Caregivers  |  Online Applications  |  Renewal Information

Note: The information provided here is intended to provide general guidance and is just a supplement to the final rules and existing Arizona statutes governing the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program. For specific sections of the rules that pertain to these FAQs, search the term(s) using the links below:

Arizona Medical Marijuana Rules  |  Medical Marijuana Act AZ Statutes

General

Get answers to general questions below or download all the General FAQs.

• GE01: Why do I need to have a medical marijuana registry identification card?
• GE02: What is still prohibited under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act?
• GE03: Will there be people growing medical marijuana in my neighborhood?
• GE04: How much will it cost to apply for a registry identification card or a dispensary registration certificate?

GE01: Why do I need to have a medical marijuana registry identification card?
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act says that anyone who follows the requirements can't be penalized for the medical use of marijuana. The Act prohibits certain discriminatory practices, including:

• A school or landlord can't refuse to enroll or lease to a qualifying patient unless failing to do so would cause the school or landlord to lose benefits under federal law;
• An employer can't discriminate against a qualifying patient in hiring, terminating, or imposing employment conditions unless failing to do so would cause the employer to lose benefits under federal law; and
• An employer can't penalize a qualifying patient for a positive drug test for marijuana, unless the patient used, possessed, or was impaired by marijuana on the employment premises or during hours of employment.

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GE02: What is still prohibited under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act?
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (Act) does not:

• Authorize a person to undertake any task under the influence of marijuana that constitutes negligence or professional malpractice. Authorize possessing or using medical marijuana on a school bus, on the grounds of a preschool, primary school, or high school, or in a correctional facility.
• Authorize smoking marijuana on public transportation or in a public place.
• Authorize operating, navigating, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, aircraft, or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana. A registered qualifying patient will not be considered to be under the influence of marijuana solely because of the presence of marijuana in the person's system that appears in a concentration insufficient to cause impairment.
• Require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana.
• Require an owner of private property to allow the use of marijuana on that property.
• Require an employer to allow the ingestion of marijuana in the workplace.
• Prevent a nursing care or other residential or inpatient healthcare facility from adopting reasonable restrictions on the provision, storage and use of marijuana by residents or patients.

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GE03: Will there be people growing medical marijuana in my neighborhood?
A qualifying patient or the qualifying patient's designated caregiver may cultivate medical marijuana if the qualifying patient lives more than 25 miles from the nearest dispensary. A dispensary may cultivate marijuana at the dispensary or at a cultivation site, but the location of the dispensary and the cultivation site needs to be in compliance with local zoning restrictions. Anyone who grows medical marijuana must do so in an enclosed area.

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GE04: How much will it cost to apply for a registry identification card or a dispensary registration certificate?
The fees are listed in rules and include:

• $150 for an initial or a renewal registry identification card for a qualifying patient. Some qualifying patients may be eligible to pay $75 for initial and renewal cards if they currently participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• $200 for an initial or a renewal registry identification card for a designated caregiver. A caregiver must apply for a new card for every patient under their care (up to five patients).
• $500 for an initial or a renewal registry identification card for a dispensary agent.
• $5,000 for an initial dispensary registration certificate.
• $1,000 for a renewal dispensary registration certificate.
• $2,500 to change the location of a dispensary or cultivation facility.
• $10 to amend, change, or replace a registry identification card.

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