Arizona is one of the latest states in the “Green Wave” of cannabis legalization in the U.S. To buy weed in Arizona, you must be 21 years or older. You can also buy weed in Arizona as a medical patient.
However, the cannabis buying experience is different if you’re an adult-use consumer versus a medical consumer. For example, cannabis is more expensive for adult-use consumers. In addition, they’re limited to certain products. On the other hand, buying weed as a patient is more expensive upfront but can pay off in the long run.
Overall, the easiest way to buy weed in Arizona is as an adult-use consumer. Let’s walk through how to buy weed in Arizona and what you’ll need to make a purchase.
Buying Weed in Arizona Without a Medical Card
It is finally legal to purchase, possess, and consume cannabis in the Grand Canyon State.
Why is this a big deal? Before the legalization passed, getting caught with weed was heavily punished. Even possessing just one gram of bud without a medical card could land you with a felony charge.
The sale, possession, consumption, and growth of cannabis for personal use became legal after Arizona voters passed Proposition 207 in 2020.
Buying weed in Arizona is easy. All you need is a valid government-issued ID proving you are 21 or older. With your ID, you can shop at any of the adult-use licensed dispensaries in the state.
Adults 21 years and older can purchase up to one ounce of flower. They can also purchase up to five grams of concentrates, edibles, cartridges, or topicals. This is the same amount that’s legal to possess, too. However, adult-use consumers can only purchase edibles containing 100mg of THC or less.
If you shop on the adult side, you’ll pay 16% in taxes on top of the purchase price of your weed selection.
Buying Weed in Arizona With a Medical Card
You can also purchase cannabis from a dispensary with a medical marijuana card.
Getting a medical marijuana card involves several steps and some cash upfront. Firstly, you need to be an Arizona resident who is 18 or older. Next, you need to be diagnosed with one of the following qualifying conditions:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s Disease
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV or AIDS
- Nausea
- Persistent Muscle Spasms
- PTSD
- Seizures
Most importantly, you need medical records to verify your condition. You can verify your current medical records with an Arizona cannabis doctor. These doctors can also establish medical records for you if they determine you are eligible for the medical cannabis program.
If you qualify, the physician will submit your paperwork to the Arizona Department of Human Services. You can also submit your paperwork yourself here. After the state accepts your application, you’ll receive a digital copy of your medical marijuana card via email. Furthermore, your physical card should arrive in the mail in about two weeks.
Physician’s fees are usually $75 to $150. You’ll also need to pay the state a card fee of $150. In total, getting a card is about $300. Arizona medical marijuana cards last for two years before needing to be renewed.
As a medical cannabis patient, you can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, of which no more than 12.5 grams is in the form of concentrates, edibles, cartridges, or topicals, every two weeks. Patients can purchase edibles at any potency that they prefer. Medical purchases are subject to 6.6% in additional taxes.
Even though becoming a medical cannabis patient is more expensive upfront, you’ll save money with a lower tax rate at the dispensary.
Finding a Dispensary in Arizona
Finally, it’s pretty easy to find a dispensary in Arizona. For example, you can type “cannabis store near me” or “cannabis dispensary near me” into Google Maps to find a dispensary close to you.
You can also find dispensaries via Leafly, Weedmaps, and I Heart Jane.
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