By The Associated Press
Arizona lawmakers want to overhaul the state’s medical marijuana law.
One lawmaker would shut down dispensaries that use unclear labels for its food products. Another measure would allow colleges and universities to conduct medical marijuana research. A third would allow county zoning ordinances to apply to marijuana cultivation.
“It was the voters that clearly supported medical marijuana in Arizona, so it’s the job of the Legislature to ensure that the law is being implemented properly,” said Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix.
Arizona voters approved medical marijuana by about 4,300 votes in 2010, authorizing its use for cancer and certain other medical conditions. The Department of Health Services oversees Arizona’s medical marijuana program and regulates dispensaries where patients and caregivers can legally buy marijuana.More than 35,000 people in Arizona have medical marijuana cards.
Marijuana proponents have cautiously watched the debate over the proposed regulations. They support any action that allows the state to carry out the intent of the law, so long as the measures don’t limit medical marijuana access.
“When voters approve medical marijuana laws, it’s because they support allowing seriously ill people to use marijuana in the treatment of their conditions,” said Mason Tvert, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national group that pushed for passage of the 2010 law. “There’s no reason to believe they have changed that position and we need to move forward and establish a workable system.”
An effort to repeal the medical marijuana law has not moved forward in the House.
Also: Federal prosecutor says state law a factor in Colorado marijuana case
