Arizona Health Officials Announce Draft Rules for Adult-Use Cannabis Market

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has announced draft rules for the state’s forthcoming adult-use cannabis market, according to an AZCentral.com report.

Voters approved adult-use legalization in the 2020 election through the passage of Proposition 207, and election results were made official Nov. 30, the news outlet reported.

Prop. 207 allows adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and grow up to six plants at home for personal use, and commercial sales could launch as early as next spring.

Health officials announced the draft rules for the program Dec. 10, although many regulations have yet to be written, according to AZCentral.com. ADHS has issued a survey to allow the public to weigh in on the rules, the news outlet reported, and the survey will remain open until Dec. 17.

The draft regulations largely mirror the framework of the state’s medical cannabis program, according to AZCentral.com. Arizona’s existing medical cannabis operators can seek licenses in the adult-use market beginning in January, and 12 new adult-use retail licenses will be available in rural counties that have one or no medical cannabis dispensaries, the news outlet reported.

Prop. 207 also established 26 additional social equity licenses that will be awarded to applicants impacted by prohibition, but the draft rules that have been written do not address these licenses, according to AZCentral.com.

“As with other rule-writing activity, ADHS will engage with stakeholders and entities that will be affected by Proposition 207, take public comment, and develop final rules for ‘social equity’ licenses through a public process,” ADHS Spokesman Steve Elliott told the news outlet.

Other regulations, such as those pertaining to cannabis testing facilities, are also noted in the draft rules as yet to be written, AZCentral.com reported.