Arizona

A Legal Medical Cannabis Patient in Arizona…

1. Is a resident of Arizona.

2. Has a qualifying debilitating medical condition. Qualifying conditions under ARS § 36-2801 include:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn's disease
• Agitation of Alzheimer's disease
• A chronic or debilitating disease or its treatment that causes:
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Severe and chronic pain
• Severe nausea
• Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
• Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis
• Any other medical condition added by the department pursuant to ARS § 36-2801.01

(For the complete current list, visit the Patient FAQs — Arizona Department of Health Services.)

3. Has obtained a written certification from a licensed Arizona physician within 90 days before submitting an application.

4. Has applied online for a registry identification card through ADHS.

5. Enrollment is current (registry cards expire two years from the date of issue).

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: See a qualifying Arizona physician

You must obtain a written certification on the official ADHS form from an Arizona-licensed physician with whom you have a physician-patient relationship. The certification must be dated within 90 days before your application and must specify your debilitating medical condition and that you are likely to receive therapeutic benefit from cannabis.

The certifying physician does not need to be your primary care provider or the physician who originally diagnosed your condition. A different physician may provide the certification if they have established a physician-patient relationship with you and have confirmed your qualifying diagnosis.

The following Arizona-licensed physicians may provide written certifications:

• Allopathic physicians (MD)
• Osteopathic physicians (DO)
• Homeopathic physicians (MD(H) or DO(H))
• Naturopathic physicians (NMD or ND)

Step 2: Apply online

After obtaining your written certification, complete your application online through the ADHS system. ADHS processes most applications within 10 business days. ADHS discontinued physical plastic cards in 2024; your approved card will be available for digital download from your ADHS portal account.

For more information, visit the Patient FAQs — Arizona Department of Health Services.

Standard registration fee: $150. Patients with SNAP documentation may qualify for a reduced fee of $75.

Patient Renewal

Registry identification cards expire two years from the date of issue. Apply for renewal at least 30 days before your expiration date. For more information, visit the Renewal FAQs — Arizona Department of Health Services.

Enrolling Minor Patients

A separate application process applies for patients under 18. Download the Minor Patient Application Checklist from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

A caregiver in Arizona is designated by a patient through the ADHS online system. The patient’s application must be completed and approved before the caregiver can apply. Caregivers must be at least 21 years of age.

To begin the caregiver application, you will need the patient’s registry identification card number, full name, and date of birth. Caregivers must submit fingerprints to ADHS by mail as part of the application.

For caregiver information and enrollment, visit ADHS Caregiver Information.

Dispensaries

After your enrollment is approved, you can access your registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest licensed dispensary.

A.R.S. § 36-2804.04(C) requires the Department to provide a list of registered dispensaries to a qualifying patient who is not authorized to cultivate marijuana plants when issuing the qualifying patient's registry identification card. This list is available on the qualifying patient’s Individual Licensing Portal.

What to Bring

• Your valid ADHS medical cannabis card (digital)
• Government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis

ADHS discontinued physical cards in 2024. A digital card serves as your credential.

Home Cultivation

If your registry identification card specifically authorizes cultivation, you may grow up to 12 cannabis plants in an enclosed, locked facility.

Under Arizona statute, A.R.S. § 36-2852(A)(2), if you are an adult 21 years of age or older, you may cultivate not more than six marijuana plants for personal use at your primary residence. Not more than 12 plants are allowed at a residence where two or more people over the age of 21 live. Cultivation must take place within a closet, room, greenhouse or other enclosed area on the grounds of the residence equipped with a lock or other security device that prevents access by minors.

Need tips on home cultivation?

Possession Limits

Under Arizona Revised Statutes, ARS 36-2801, registered patients may possess:

• Up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis
• Up to 12 cannabis plants in an enclosed, locked facility, if the patient’s registry card specifically authorizes cultivation

Medical cannabis can be used on private property.

Patients CANNOT medicate or possess medical cannabis in these locations:

• At a dispensary (ARS 36-2806)
• Any public place. Smoking cannabis is prohibited in public places
• The grounds of federal facilities (such as courthouses, post offices, airports, and national parks)

Patients who live in or receive services at a nursing care institution, hospice, assisted living facility, adult foster care home, or adult day health care facility may be subject to additional restrictions imposed by that facility. (ARS 36-2805)

Note: Patients may consume cannabis-infused edibles and products at locations other than dispensaries.

Arizona has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits. While the medical program may require additional steps, registration can provide patients and caregivers with added support, stronger protections, and access to medical guidance.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Tax Benefits

Medical patients save approximately 16% on purchases compared to adult-use consumers. Arizona imposes a 16% excise tax on adult-use cannabis sales that does not apply to medical cannabis purchases.

Purchase and Possession Advantages

Registered patients may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis, compared to 1 ounce for adult-use consumers. Medical patients also have access to dispensary-exclusive products and medical-grade formulations.

Civil Protections

The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act states that an employer will not be able to penalize a qualifying patient with a registry identification card for a positive drug test for marijuana, unless the patient used, possessed, or was impaired by marijuana on the employment premises or during hours of employment. Employers may not rightfully terminate a qualified patient from her/his employment solely because of their status as a registry ID cardholder or a positive drug screen. However, employers are not expected to accommodate the medical use of cannabis in any workplace. In addition, an employer may refuse to hire or terminate an employee based on their status as a registry ID cardholder if the employer stands to lose a federal benefit by continuing to employ the patient. If you are unsure how the Act applies to you, consult an attorney licensed to practice law in Arizona.

No landlord may refuse to lease to or otherwise penalize a person solely for his or her status as a medical cannabis patient or designated caregiver, unless housing the patient would cause the landlord to lose a federal benefit. 

Patients suspected of impaired driving will have an affirmative defense for any cannabis use.

Cannabis Expungement

In 2020, Prop 207 passed, requiring Arizona courts to expunge records for "certain possession, consumption, transportation, and cultivation offenses" by petition. On May 30, 2023, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that those convicted of possession with the intent to sell are also eligible for expungement. Forms and instructions for the expungement process are available online.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Arizona’s medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway alongside adult-use access.

Arizona provides legal protection for possession by out-of-state patients visiting Arizona. State law allows a visiting qualifying patient with a registry identification card or its equivalent, issued by the qualifying patient's home state, to possess or use cannabis. However, a visiting patient is not authorized to obtain cannabis from a dispensary because the dispensary is required by statute to access a verification system before dispensing marijuana.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.