Why it matters: Lawmakers in Arizona have passed a bill that would expand the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis and lower the cost of the treatment. If the bill becomes law, it would add autism and post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.
What they are saying: The Arizona Dispensaries Association has strongly backed the legislation. Ann Torrez, executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association, said that they support the bill as it gives veterans the ability to acquire a medical marijuana card at no cost. She added that often veterans suffer from PTSD, insomnia, heightened anxiety and chronic pain, and a free medical marijuana card gives veteran patients access to medical cannabis treatment for any of these common conditions.
The big picture: The bill proposes several other key changes to the state’s medical cannabis law, including the reduction of medical marijuana card costs to $50 and adding child protection, by mandating child-resistant packaging and limiting advertising that is attractive to children.
What to watch: The bill is being considered at a time when Arizona’s medical cannabis industry is enduring sluggish sales. In October, medical marijuana sales in the state amounted to a little over $31m, which was the eighth consecutive month of decline. Meanwhile, the state’s adult-use cannabis market, which launched in January 2021, continues to thrive.
My take: It is heartening to see that lawmakers in Arizona are considering expanding qualifying conditions for medical cannabis and lowering its costs. This will give patients who require the treatment better access to it, and it will be especially beneficial for veterans who are often suffering from physical and mental conditions related to their service. It will also be interesting to see if the proposed child protection provisions will make it to other states to ensure cannabis is kept out of reach of children. Even though the medical cannabis industry in Arizona is experiencing sluggish sales, it is encouraging to know that the adult-use cannabis market continues to grow.
