A legislative proposal to expand Arizona’s medical marijuana program has been passed by Arizona’s full Senate.
Senate Bill 1466, filed by Senator Thomas Shope, would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism spectrum disorder as conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient. The measure would also reduce the price of medicinal marijuana cards to just $50, which is a third of the current cost ($150), while making them entirely free for veterans. The bill was passed recently by the Senate in an overwhelming 24 to 6 vote.
The measure has now been sent to the House of Representatives. Passage in the House would send the bill to Governor Katie Hobbs, who is expected to sign it into law if given the chance.
Medical marijuana first become legal in Arizona in 2010. The current qualifying conditions are:
Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or agitation of Alzheimer’s disease or the treatment of these conditions, a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its
treatment that produces one or more of the following: Cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
The full text of Senate Bill 1466 can be found by clicking here.
