Short answer: In order to get a 2 year marijuana card in Arizona, the process is the same as it was previously for getting a one-year marijuana card in the state.
Arizona residents who rely on medical marijuana to provide them comfort and relief can rejoice, or at least breathe a little easier, as the state has just made it more affordable to get your medical marijuana card. Without a medical marijuana card, you cannot purchase, possess or use medical marijuana legally in Arizona, yet exorbitant medical marijuana card prices have been making it prohibitive for many legitimate medical marijuana patients in Arizona to comply with current law and use marijuana legally. No longer, however, is that requirement such a hindrance, as the state is now offering cheap medical marijuana cards valid for a period of two years instead of just one.
On the New Law Creating a Medical Marijuana Card for Two Years
The new law providing for issuance of a medical marijuana card for two years was passed by the Arizona State Legislature on May 28, 2019 as part of an amendment added to Bill SB1494, which primarily required third-party laboratory testing for toxins of all cannabis sold in any dispensary in the state. This last-minute provision added into the bill extends the period of validity for all medical marijuana cards newly issued in the state from one year to two. That means after this law goes into effect, you cannot even get a one-year medical marijuana card in Arizona, not that you would want to. After the bill was passed in the legislature, it moved up to the Governor’s office for Gov. Doug Ducey to make into law with his signature.
Read also: Official Arizona Laws and Rules 2022.
How Cheap is the New Cheap Marijuana Card?
By extending the period of validity for its medical marijuana cards from one to two years, Arizona saves residents a $150 state fee every year and the fee for a medical marijuana doctor visit to obtain the diagnosis and authorization required to receive a card, generally another $80 to $150. Now, medical marijuana patients in Arizona only need to pay those fees every other year rather than ever year, in essence cutting the cost of being a legal medical marijuana patient in the state in half. Note that, if you participate in Arizona’s SNAP program, meaning you are on food stamps, your cheap marijuana card becomes even cheaper, as you will only pay a heavily discounted fee of $75 for a two-year medical marijuana card, not $150.
How to Get 2 Year Marijuana Card in Arizona
The new medical marijuana law in Arizona goes into effect on August 27, 2019. As of that time, to get 2 year marijuana card in Arizona, the process is the same as it was previously for getting a one-year marijuana card in the state.
For starters, the qualifying conditions to receive a cheap medical marijuana card in Arizona have not changed. They are:
- AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
In addition, you can also qualify for a cheap medical marijuana card in Arizona if you have any debilitating or chronic medical condition or disease or are receiving treatment for such a condition that is causing any of the following symptoms:
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures (including but not limited to seizures from epilepsy)
- Persistent or severe muscle spasms (including but not limited to muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis)
- Severe nausea
Read also: The Full List of Existing Qualifying Conditions For Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Arizona.
Whether your Arizona marijuana doctor is the one who originally diagnosed you with the condition or not, that doctor must at least attest in writing that you have presented him or her with proof of possessing the given qualifying condition and that he or she will be monitoring your condition while you are using medical marijuana as a form of treatment.
Other qualifications to receive your medical marijuana card in Arizona, whether a one-year card prior to August 27, 2019 or a two-year card on or after that date, are that you must be at least 18 years of age or have a legal guardian registered as your official caregiver and you must possess a valid Arizona State Identification Card or Driver’s License. You must also reside in Arizona, with an in-state residential address. If your doctor decides you qualify for medical marijuana, he or she will provide the Arizona Department of Health Services with the required documentation on your behalf for you to get 2 year marijuana card. You will then receive your card in the mail within 14 business days. If your doctor approves you for medical marijuana but does not wish to submit the necessary documentation for you, simply request he or she sign and provide to you a Physician Certification you can submit yourself. You can check on the status of your Arizona medical marijuana card application on the Arizona Department of Health Services website.
Expiration Dates and Renewal Info for Arizona’s New Cheap Marijuana Card
Your new medical marijuana card in Arizona will expire two years after its date of issue, not the date on your doctor’s letter authorizing you to get 2 year marijuana card. Any medical marijuana cards issued in Arizona prior to that date are valid for only one year and will still expire on the date listed on the card, even if that date comes after August 27, 2019 on the calendar. Likewise, if you submit an application for an Arizona medical marijuana card prior to that date, the card issued to you based on that application will only be valid for a period of one year. When the time comes to renew your current one-year marijuana card, however, that renewal will be issued with a new expiration date set two years out from the renewal card’s date of issuance, not just one year. Be aware that you will need to set another appointment with doctor to be issued a new medical marijuana authorization letter in order to receive your renewal card. To learn more about how to get 2 year marijuana card in Arizona, schedule an appointment with GreenDreamDoctors today 602 910 9628
Read also: Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card Online.
Want to apply for a medical marijuana card without leaving your home? It’s now possible due to our telemedicine service. Just click on the button below and schedule an appointment with a licensed doctor. During the online conference, you can ask all needed questions, find out if you can qualify, and get assistance in the application procedure for a weed card in Arizona.