Well that was sure quick! We’re barely into 2021 and the Arizona Department of Health Services has already started giving the green light to dispensaries to sell marijuana recreationally in the Grand Canyon State!
We’ve been following this story for some time, obviously, as it represents a huge positive change in our industry, and it is incredibly satisfying to see these recreational legalization measures roll out swiftly. In another time you would expect to find people dragging their feet in passing the necessary steps to
As of the afternoon of this writing, on January 22nd, dispensaries across the state have started to sell recreational marijuana! Over 40 dispensaries had applied between the morning of January 19th and the afternoon of the 22nd and around noon the sales started rolling out! Over 100 dispensaries are expected to end up with dual licenses, allowing them to sell marijuana medicinally and recreationally!
While the number of licenses being handed out are limited, following the restrictions in place with Prop 207.
Here’s what recreational shoppers need to know!
You Must Be 21+
Recreational marijuana is only legal for those 21 and over. You’ll need to bring a photo ID to any dispensary licensed to sell recreationally.
The Amount Available for Purchase
You can buy up to an ounce of marijuana. Proposition 207 limits possession of recreational marijuana to that amount. That’s not the only limitation on what’s available. In practice, stores will have variable products depending on whether it’s a medical or a recreational product. When it comes to edibles for instance, recreational purchases won’t be able to buy items with more than 10mg of THC per serving, or 100mg per package.
Similarly, it’s essential to know the limit on what you can legally possess! As of November 30th, anyone can possess up to an ounce of marijuana on his/her person or in their vehicle, or at most 5 grams of concentrates. The law decriminalized up to 2.5 oz. of marijuana, so, from 1 to 2.5 oz, or up to 12.5 grams of concentrate. It is a petty offense and you’ll get a fine.
You Cannot Smoke In Public
Just like alcohol, what’s legal doesn’t necessarily mean it can be enjoyed in public! Recreational marijuana cannot be smoked in public so don’t plan on lighting up any joints at the park!
Medicinal Marijuana Isn’t Going Anywhere
As mentioned there is a difference in the amounts and kinds of marijuana available to recreational and medical users. For that reason, those with medical cards should continue to keep them and follow their programs. Similarly, if you wish to seek a medical card for marijuana as a medication you should still go through the process of getting one.
Recreational sales have been going for a couple of weeks now so if you have any interest at all in buying and vaping marijuana recreationally in Arizona, find a dispensary near you and head on down to see what’s on offer. At this point most of the lines should have cleared and the process of becoming a new patient or customer (depending on the store’s lingo) should be easy.
