Arizona Cannabis Laws 2026: What's Legal for Adults and Patients

Arizona voters approved Proposition 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, in November 2020. Possession and home growing became legal on November 30, 2020, and licensed stores began adult-use sales on January 22, 2021. Medical cannabis has been legal since 2010.

Is weed legal in Arizona?

Yes, for adults 21 and older. Bring a valid ID showing you're 21+ to any licensed dispensary. Visitors can buy too.

How much can you buy and carry?

Limit	Adults 21+	Medical patients
Possession	Up to 1 ounce, with no more than 5 grams as concentrate	Up to 2.5 ounces
Purchases	Up to 1 ounce per transaction	Up to 2.5 ounces every 14 days

Carrying more than 1 ounce but no more than 2.5 ounces is a petty offense with a fine up to $300. Larger amounts can bring criminal charges.

Where can you use it?

Private property only. Prop 207 bans using cannabis in public places, open spaces and anywhere smoking tobacco is banned. Landlords and businesses can prohibit it on their property.

Can you grow cannabis at home?

Yes, no permit needed. Each adult 21+ can grow up to 6 plants, with a limit of 12 plants per household when two or more adults live there. Plants must be in an enclosed, locked space that isn't visible from public view.

Medical cannabis in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) runs the medical program. A medical card still makes sense if you buy regularly:

• No 16% excise tax on medical purchases
• Higher limits: 2.5 ounces every 14 days
• Patients under 21 can qualify with a caregiver

Taxes on cannabis in Arizona

Adult-use purchases carry a 16% excise tax on top of the state transaction privilege (sales) tax of 5.6% and any local sales tax. Medical purchases skip the excise tax.

Driving, work and housing

• Driving: Driving while impaired is illegal and treated like a DUI.
• Work: Prop 207 doesn't require employers to allow cannabis, and they can keep drug-testing policies.
• Housing: Landlords can ban smoking and growing on their property.

Old marijuana convictions

Since July 2021, Arizonans can petition the court to expunge past records for possessing up to 2.5 ounces (no more than 12.5 grams of concentrate), growing up to 6 plants, or related paraphernalia. Expunged records are sealed and the arrest and conviction are treated as if they never happened.

Is anything changing in 2026?

A group gathered signatures in 2026 for an initiative that would have ended adult-use sales, but the campaign dropped the effort in May and didn't file signatures by the July deadline, so it won't be on the November 2026 ballot. Arizona's adult-use rules stay as they are.

Federal law in 2026

Federal law still treats recreational cannabis as illegal. In April 2026, the federal government moved marijuana sold under a state medical license (and FDA-approved cannabis medicines) to Schedule III, but adult-use cannabis is still Schedule I. That means it's still banned on federal land and can't legally cross state lines, even between two legal states.

Separately, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect in two steps: synthetic and converted cannabinoids like delta-8 lose their legal status on November 12, 2026, and naturally derived hemp THC (THCA flower, hemp delta-9 edibles and drinks) on December 11, 2026.

Where to buy legally

Browse dispensaries in Arizona in our directory, including Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe.

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources below before you rely on any detail.