The green lawn at the state Capitol came alive Monday as lawmakers returned to start a new legislative year. After months of quiet, the grounds buzzed with activity. A college marching band, better than usual by most accounts, played throughout the morning, while protesters filled the pauses between songs with chants and calls for attention. Lawmakers and lobbyists hustled across the lawn, hunting for co-sponsors, urging committee chairs to hear their bills, and setting an energetic tone for the weeks ahead.
The pace already signals a crowded year. House bill numbers have climbed into the 2900s, a level legislator’s usually reach only at the very end of the session during budget talks. Lawmakers also cleared their first major deadline almost immediately. At the start of the session, Arizona legislators can introduce as many bills as they want. Once the seven-bill limit deadline hits, usually in the first or second week, each lawmaker can introduce only seven more bills for the rest of the year.
Cannabis Measures Emerge Quickly
Cannabis policy has already taken center stage at the Capitol. By the end of the first week, lawmakers had introduced five cannabis-related measures: three House bills and two House Concurrent Resolutions. Some proposals return from past sessions, including HB 2632, which addresses landlords and tenant marijuana use, and HCR 2029, which focuses on marijuana bans in unincorporated areas and on reservations. At the same time, lawmakers have started to roll out new ideas that signal fresh debates ahead.
Ryan’s Law moves first
The first cannabis proposal of the year arrived early. Rep Bliss, a Republican from Legislative District 1, prefiled HB 2081: medical marijuana; terminal illness in mid-December. Lawmakers and advocates refer to the bill as Ryan’s Law.
The proposal updates Arizona’s medical marijuana law by clearing up definitions and expanding protections for patients with terminal illnesses. The bill keeps current limits on possession and cultivation for patients and caregivers while tightening eligibility rules for caregivers and dispensary agents. It also maintains existing restrictions tied to serious or violent felony convictions.
Ryan’s Law also tackles access inside health care settings. The bill requires licensed health care facilities, including hospitals and assisted living centers, to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in designated areas. It bans smoking and vaping, requires staff to document use in medical records, and allows facilities to set reasonable storage and safety rules. Facilities may still limit access if marijuana use would put federal funding or licensing at risk.
Lawmakers expect the bill to move quickly after it cleared its first and second readings in the House. Supporters say the measure improves end-of-life care and praise Rep. Bliss for pushing a more compassionate and practical approach to medical cannabis.
HB 2801 Targets Past Marijuana Convictions
Rep. Kevin Volk, a Democrat representing Legislative District 17, introduced HB 2801: Marijuana Convictions; Misdemeanors; Fines; Assessments. The bill aims to strengthen Arizona’s marijuana expungement process and make it easier for eligible individuals to clear their records.
Under the proposal, people arrested, charged, or convicted before Nov. 30, 2020, for low-level marijuana offenses could ask the court to expunge their records. Eligible offenses would include possession of small amounts of marijuana, limited home cultivation, and marijuana-related paraphernalia. Courts would notify prosecutors and approve petitions unless the state shows clear evidence that the person does not qualify. Judges would hold hearings only when disputes over facts arise.
If a court grants an expungement, the judge would vacate the conviction, seal all related records, and restore civil rights, including firearm rights unless another law blocks them. State and local agencies would have to update their records, and courts and prosecutors could no longer use expunged offenses in future cases. Individuals could legally say the offense never happened.
The bill would also allow prosecutors and the attorney general to file expungement petitions for eligible individuals. Courts could dismiss qualifying pending charges and waive unpaid fines or probation terms. The Arizona Supreme Court could adopt new rules and launch public education efforts to make sure eligible people know about the process.
HCR 2037 Sends A Major Question To Voters
Rep. Tony Rivero, a Republican representing Legislative District 21, introduced HCR 2037, known as the Arizona Marijuana Alignment and Public Safety Act. Unlike the other measures, this proposal would go straight to voters at the next general election if lawmakers approve it.
The resolution would make sweeping changes to Arizona’s marijuana system. It would block people convicted of violent crimes from owning or controlling marijuana businesses and require regulators to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for violations. The measure would also create standard cultivation canopy limits for marijuana businesses and medical dispensaries, allow shared canopy agreements with state approval, and require consistent rules for measuring and reporting canopy size.
The proposal would set enforceable limits on residual solvents used in marijuana extraction and require businesses to fix or destroy noncompliant products after an 18-month rollout period. It would ban interstate marijuana commerce unless federal law clearly allows it and require a seed-to-sale tracking system to prevent diversion, with license suspension or revocation as penalties.
Looking ahead, the act would also prepare Arizona for possible federal changes. It would require the state to create rules to help licensees participate in any future federal registration or oversight system while allowing information sharing with federal agencies.
With multiple cannabis bills already in play and more likely on the way, lawmakers have made one thing clear early in the session: marijuana policy will remain a major focus at the Capitol this year.
DETAILS
HB2081-Medical Marijuana; Terminal Illness (Ryan’s Law)
Pre filed Intro
01/12/2026 House First Read
01/13/2026 Second Read
The proposal, titled Ryan’s Law, would update Arizona’s medical marijuana statute by clarifying definitions and expanding protections for qualifying patients, particularly those with terminal illnesses. The measure would maintain existing possession and cultivation limits for patients and caregivers, refine eligibility standards for caregivers and dispensary agents, and reaffirm restrictions related to prior violent or serious felony convictions. It would also require licensed health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in designated areas, prohibit smoking or vaping, include marijuana use in medical records, and permit reasonable storage and safety restrictions, unless compliance would jeopardize federal funding or licensing. Other facilities could still adopt reasonable limits on use, but could not unreasonably deny access. The changes would take effect only with approval by a three‑fourths vote of each chamber of the Legislature.
Sections Affected:
36-2801 Amended
36-2805 Amended
Sponsor: Bliss
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
MORE INFO
HB 2632: Landlords; Tenant’s Marijuana Use
01/15/2026 Introduced House
The measure would prohibit landlords from terminating a rental agreement solely because a tenant uses marijuana.
Sections Affected:
33-1317.01 Added
Sponsor:
Austin Prime
Garcia Co-Sponsor
Sandoval Co-Sponsor
Villegas Co-Sponsor
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
MORE INFO
HB2801: Marijuana Convictions; Misdemeanors; Fines; Assessments
01/15/2026 Introduced House
The legislation would expand and clarify Arizona’s marijuana expungement law, allowing individuals with certain low‑level marijuana offenses committed before November 30, 2020, to petition courts to erase their criminal records. Eligible offenses include limited possession, small‑scale home cultivation, and marijuana paraphernalia. Courts would notify prosecutors, hold hearings if needed, and grant expungement unless prosecutors prove ineligibility. Approved petitions would vacate convictions, seal records, restore civil rights, and prevent expunged offenses from being used in future prosecutions, with the measure taking effect only if three‑fourths of lawmakers in each chamber approve it.
Sections Affected:
36-2862 Amended
Sponsor:
Volk
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
MORE INFO
HCR2029: Marijuana; Unincorporated Areas; Reservations; Prohibition
01/15/2026 Introduced House
HCR 2029 would send a measure to Arizona voters that bars the state from issuing medical or adult‑use marijuana licenses in unincorporated areas completely surrounded by Indian reservations. The proposal would prohibit nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries, marijuana establishments, and marijuana testing facilities from operating in these locations, effectively limiting cannabis businesses in so‑called “county islands” encircled by tribal land, with voters deciding the issue at the next general election.
Sponsor:
Peshlakai Prime
Austin Co-Sponsor
Cavero Co-Sponsor
Connolly Co-Sponsor
Liguori Co-Sponsor
Márquez Co-Sponsor
Sandoval Co-Sponsor
Villegas Co-Sponsor
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): No (goes to ballot)
MORE INFO
HCR2037 Marijuana; Conviction Exclusion; Cultivation
(The Arizona Marijuana Alignment and Public Safety Act)
01/15/2026 Introduced House
The Arizona Marijuana Alignment and Public Safety Act would update state marijuana law by tightening licensing requirements, regulating cultivation, and preparing for potential federal changes. The proposal would bar individuals with violent crime convictions from owning or controlling marijuana businesses and require regulators to deny or revoke licenses for violations. It would set a standard cultivation canopy of 15,000 square feet per license, allow approved shared canopy agreements, and establish enforceable limits on residual solvents in marijuana products. The measure would prohibit interstate marijuana commerce unless federal law allows it, require a seed‑to‑sale tracking system to prevent diversion, and authorize license suspension or revocation for violations. It would also direct the state to develop a framework for voluntary participation in any future federal marijuana registration system and allow information sharing with federal agencies, with the proposal ultimately going before voters at the next general election.
Sections Affected:
36-2870 Added
36-2871 Added
36-2872 Added
36-2873 Added
36-2874 Added
Sponsor:
Rivero Prime
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): No (goes to ballot)
MORE INFO