Arizona Senate Approves Bill to Lower Medical Cannabis Card Costs and Increase Accessibility for Veterans

In early March 2023, the Arizona Senate approved a bill that would cut the cost—both initially and the two-year renewal—for a medical cannabis card from $150 down to $50, while making the card free for veterans (1,2). It would also add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism spectrum disorder as qualifying medical conditions, and would require packaging for medical cannabis products to have a QR code with information such as health warnings.

"We felt it was really important to provide the veterans in the state access to medical marijuana as they see needed," said Ann Torrez, executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association (2). "And, in addition to that, with the change in medical conditions to include post-traumatic stress disorder, we just thought that this now is the right time to make sure that the access becomes even more available."

The bill must pass the House before being presented to the governor of Arizona.

References

1. https://norml.org/blog/2023/03/08/state-policy-weekly-update-3-8-2023/
2. https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_7c5e692c-ba09-11ed-b29b-674282525c40.html