Medical marijuana was adopted by the state of Arizona pursuant to the 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA), which is interpreted and enforced by the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS). The AZDHS has the authority to issue dispensary licenses and inspect dispensaries for noncompliance with the AMMA. Patients must be licensed by the AZDHS following a medical professional’s certification of a debilitating medical condition. The Smart and Safe Arizona Act was approved in November 2020, which legalizes marijuana for possession and consumption by adults, with certain specifications. The Arizona Hemp Program was launched in June 2019, requiring hemp growers, harvesters, processors, and transporters (but not retailers) to obtain a license.
