REFERENCE TITLE: medical marijuana; fee; exemption; veterans

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

HB 2261

Introduced by

Representatives Hernandez C: Carbone, Hernandez A, Hernandez L, Rivero, Taylor, Tsosie, Wilmeth

AN ACT

Amending section 36-2804.02, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to medical marijuana.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Subject to the requirements of article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2804.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-2804.02. Registration of qualifying patients and designated caregivers; fee exemption

A. A qualifying patient may apply to the department for a registry identification card by submitting:

1. Written certification issued by a physician within the ninety days immediately preceding the date of application.

2. The application fee.

3. An application, including:

(a) The name, mailing address, residence address and date of birth of the qualifying patient, except that if the applicant is homeless no address is required.

(b) The name, address and telephone number of the qualifying patient's physician.

(c) The name, address and date of birth of the qualifying patient's designated caregiver, if any.

(d) A statement signed by the qualifying patient pledging not to divert marijuana to anyone who is not allowed to possess marijuana pursuant to this chapter.

(e) A signed statement from the designated caregiver, if any, agreeing to be the patient's designated caregiver and pledging not to divert marijuana to anyone who is not allowed to possess marijuana pursuant to this chapter.

(f) A designation as to who will be allowed to cultivate marijuana plants for the qualifying patient's medical use if a registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary is not operating within twenty-five miles of the qualifying patient's home.

B. The application for a qualifying patient's registry identification card shall ask whether the patient would like the department to notify him the patient of any clinical studies needing human subjects for research on the medical use of marijuana.  The department shall notify interested patients if it is notified of studies that will be conducted in the United States.

C. A veteran of the United States armed forces who has been honorably discharged is exempt from the application fee prescribed in subsection A of this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Requirements for enactment; three-fourths vote

Pursuant to article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2804.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is effective only on the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature.