What To Know About Arizona Legalizing Marijuana

Arizonans chose to legalize marijuana this Election Day, but the state will have to wait to light up a joint in celebration.

So when can adults break out the bud? First, the state has to wait for the election results are certified, which likely won't happen until December, the Phoenix New Times reported.

While nearly 60% of voters said yes to Prop. 207, the law hasn't gone into effect yet so technically you can still get arrested for possession if caught. Once the results are certified and the law goes into effect, adults over the age of 21 will be able to possess up to an ounce of marijuana or up to five grams in concentrated form.

Arizonans will also be able to grow marijuana once the law goes into effect, too. Individual adults will be able to grow up to six plants at home. Households will be limited to 12 plants if more than one adult lives there.

If you want to buy an ounce at a dispensary, it'll be a few more months until that can happen. The Arizona Department of Health and Human Services will license applications for recreational dispensaries starting in January. This makes March the earliest recreational marijuana can be sold in Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic.

Medical marijuana cards will still be valid once recreational use is legal. Anyone with a medical card will not have to pay the 16% excise tax placed on recreational pot, and medical patients will likely have access to products with a higher THC level than retail customers.

Arizonans with marijuana-related crimes on their record will have to wait until July 2021 to get them expunged. Crimes involving more than 2.5 ounces of marijuana, 12.5 grams of cannabis concentration, or more than six plants may not be eligible to removed from a person's record.

Full text of the ballot initiative approved by voters can be found here.

Photo: Getty Images