Arizona Legislature Seeks to Slash Medical Cannabis Card Prices Amid Declining Sales and Patient Numbers

PHOENIX– In an effort to revive Arizona’s struggling medical cannabis market, lawmakers are pushing forward a bill aimed at reducing the cost of medical cannabis cards. Senate Bill 1466, which received approval from the state Senate in March, proposes to decrease the price of MMJ cards from $150 to $50 for the general public, as reported by the Phoenix New Times.

Under the proposed legislation, military veterans would be eligible to receive medical marijuana cards free of charge, highlighting the state’s recognition of their service and potential medical needs. Additionally, SB 1466 seeks to expand the range of qualifying conditions to encompass autism spectrum disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At present, a significant majority (94%) of existing MMJ cardholders cite chronic pain as their qualifying health condition, according to the latest state data.

The introduction of this bill coincides with a substantial decline in medical cannabis sales and the number of qualified patients in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Revenue reported that MMJ sales plummeted to a mere $28.2 million in February, the lowest monthly total since the launch of adult-use retail in January 2021. In the same month, adult-use sales accounted for 73.1% of the total cannabis sales amounting to $105.2 million.

Disturbingly, the number of qualifying medical cannabis patients in Arizona has dwindled to 127,266 through April, witnessing a staggering drop of nearly 85,000 patients since April 2022. This decline amounts to a significant reduction of almost 57% from the 295,295 patients registered in December 2020, which was the last month preceding the commencement of recreational retail sales.

The bill to reduce medical cannabis card prices comes as lawmakers recognize the importance of making cannabis-based treatments more accessible and affordable to the broader public, ultimately addressing the declining patient numbers and reinvigorating the medical cannabis industry in Arizona. However, it remains to be seen whether SB 1466 will gain sufficient support to become law and provide the necessary stimulus to revive the state’s medical cannabis market.