This week, only one new cannabis-related bill has been introduced in Arizona, and it’s sponsored by Senator Payne, who recently moved from the House of Representatives to the Senate. The bill, SB 1230, is designed to fix a problem with a law passed in 2021.
The original law, HB 2298, allowed the Arizona Biomedical Research Center to give grants from the Medical Marijuana Fund for research approved by the FDA. These studies were meant to explore how safe and effective marijuana is and how it interacts with other drugs. The law required the research to be conducted by Arizona scientists at nonprofits or universities and approved by federal agencies. The focus was on treatments for autism, epilepsy, PTSD, and pain.
The law even protected researchers from being arrested for using marijuana grown for their studies and set aside up to $5 million annually for five years, with no more than 5% going to administrative costs. On paper, it sounded like a huge step forward for cannabis research in Arizona.
However, because the original bill used the word “may” instead of “shall,” the research grants were never required to be issued, and the program never got started. SB 1230, while a small and simple bill, is vital to ensuring this research program can finally move forward and benefit the cannabis movement in Arizona.
At A Glance
Scheduled – 01/27/2025, 2:00 PM – House HHS Health & Human Services, HHR 4
HB2179-Marijuana; Advertising; Restrictions
Scheduled – 01/29/2025, 2:00 PM – Senate ED Education, SHR 1
SB1105- Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; Location
House 2nd Read
HB2179-Marijuana; Advertising; Restrictions
Senate 2nd Read
SB1105- Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; Location
House 1st Read
HB2245- Appropriation; Medical Marijuana; Veterans; Fees
Referred to House Rules
HB2245- Appropriation; Medical Marijuana; Veterans; Fees
Referred to House Appropriations
HB2245- Appropriation; Medical Marijuana; Veterans; Fees
Referred to House Federalism, Military Affairs & Election
HB2245- Appropriation; Medical Marijuana; Veterans; Fees
No Movement
HB2261- Medical Marijuana; Fee; Exemption; Veterans
HCR2027- Marijuana; Unincorporated Areas; Reservations; Prohibition
Bill Details
HB2179-Marijuana; Advertising; Restrictions
01/21/2025 Hearing Scheduled – 01/27/2025, 2:00 PM – House HHS Health & Human Services, HHR 4
01/21/2025 House 2nd Read
01/16/2025 House – House 1st Read
01/16/2025 House – Referred to House (HHS) Health & Human Services Committee
01/16/2025 House – Referred to – House Rules Committee
01/14/2025 House – Introduced
Summary
Restricts the marketing, promotion, sponsorship, advertisement, or advertising for Marijuana, products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, intoxicating cannabinoids, or marijuana paraphernalia to a licensed marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary. Defines advertising restrictions on a marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary and provides text that must be included in all advertising. Defines restrictions on billboard advertising and outlines the process and penalties for noncompliance including timelines, deadlines and possible penalties. Stipulates that for the purposes of this legislation advertising does not include communication targeted to an established customer base. Effective date is July 1, 2026 and implementation is contingent on 3/4 of the members of each House of the legislature approving this legislation, per the Arizona Constitution.
Sections Affected
36-2859- Amended
Sponsor
Prime: Bliss
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
FOR MORE INFO
HB2245- Appropriation; Medical Marijuana; Veterans; Fees
01/23/2025 House 1st Read
01/23/2025 Referred to Committee – Rules – House Rules
01/23/2025 Referred to Committee – Appropriations – House Appropriations
01/23/2025 Referred to Committee – House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
01/15/2025 House – Introduced
Summary:
Appropriates $10,000,000 from the Arizona State General Fund in FY 2025-2026 to the Arizona Department of Health Services for the issuance and renewal of registry identification cards for veterans of the United States armed forces pursuant to state law.
Sections Affected
36-2804.02- Amended
Prime: Mathis
Co-Sponsor:
De Los Santos
Villegas
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105)
FOR MORE INFO
HB2261- Medical Marijuana; Fee; Exemption; Veterans
No Movement
01/15/2025 House – Introduced
Exempts honorably discharged armed forces veterans from paying the standard application fee for a qualifying patient’s registry identification card. These changes ensure that veterans receive financial relief when applying for a registry identification card. Enactment hinges on achieving the constitutionally required three-fourths majority in each house of the Legislature.
Sections Affected
36-2804.02- Amended
Prime: Hernandez C
Co-Sponsor:
Carbone
Hernandez A
Hernandez L
Rivero
Taylor
Tsosie
Wilmeth
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
FOR MORE INFO
HCR2027- Marijuana; Unincorporated Areas; Reservations; Prohibition
No Movement
01/16/2025 House – Introduced
The 2024 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend state statute to prohibit the Department of Health Services from issuing a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate, a marijuana establishment license, a marijuana testing facility license, or an independent third-party laboratory certification at a location in unincorporated territory that is surrounded on all sides by an Indian Reservation in Arizona
Prime: Peshlakai
Co-Sponsor:
Contreras P
Luna-Nájera
Márquez
Sandoval
Stahl Hamilton
Villegas
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
FOR MORE INFO
SB1105- Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; Location
01/23/2025 Hearing Scheduled – 01/29/2025, 2:00 PM – Senate ED, SHR 1
01/22/2025 Senate 2nd Read
01/16/2025 Senate – Senate 1st Read
01/16/2025 Senate – Referred to Senate Education Committee
01/16/2025 Senate – Referred to Senate Rules Committee
01/14/2025 Senate – Introduced
Summary:
Adds childcare facilities or facilities that provide preschool programs to the distance restrictions for the location of a medical marijuana dispensary. Requires an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each House of the legislature.
Sections Affected
36-2804- Amended
Sponsor
Prime: Bolick
Co-Sponsor: Miranda
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
FOR MORE INFO
SB1230- Marijuana; Clinical Research Trials
01/22/2025 Senate Introduced
(Summary)
None yet
Sections Affected
36-2817- Amended
36-2822- Amended
Sponsor
Prime: Payne
VPA- Voter Protection Act (Prop 105): Yes
FOR MORE INFO