ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: HHS DPA 7-1-1-0

---

HB 2049: medical conditions; medical marijuana

Sponsor:  Representative Espinoza, LD 19

House Engrossed

Overview

Adds autism spectrum disorder to the definition of debilitating medical condition in the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA).

History

In 2010, the AMMA was established through Proposition 203, a voter-approved initiative measure. Statute requires the Arizona Department of Health Services to regulate the AMMA through rulemaking, registration and certification of medical marijuana dispensaries, registration of qualifying patients and designated caregivers, issuing or denying registry identification cards and establishing a verification system. Statute also outlines limitations of the AMMA, requirements for dispensaries and definitions of terms relating to the AMMA. (A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 28.1)

Provisions

1. Adds debilitating conditions of autism spectrum disorder, including agitation, rage attacks and self-injurious behavior, to the definition of debilitating medical condition in the statutes relating to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that a physician providing written certification for medical use of marijuana for a patient younger than eighteen years of age who has autism must be a pediatrician. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires a physician who provides written certification for a patient who is younger than eighteen years of age and who has autism to:

a) Provide recommendations to the patient's caregiver on the marijuana's potency, quantity and frequency of use;

b) Assess the patient on a monthly basis until the physician is satisfied that that the patient is taking a stable dose for the most beneficial results and continue to assess the patient every six months; and

c) Report the results annually to DHS. (Sec. 2)

4. Contains a Proposition 105 clause. (Sec. 3)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                        HB 2049

Initials IG/ML  Page 0 House Engrossed

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------