This week AZ Attorney General Brnovich wrote an Opinion stating that state lawmakers (or presumably the ADHS) can use qualified medical marijuana patient card fees to operate programs to help get people off of other drugs. The Arizona Medical Marijuana Fund (administered by the ADHS) contains more than $44M right now (the fund consists of fees paid by patients for cards, other card fees like dispensary agent cards, and dispensary application fees).
Here’s a simple Q & A from this week’s Opinion:
Q. Could the Legislature, through the budget process, direct the ADHS Director to appropriate some of the Fund monies to help people addicted to drugs?
A. Yes. The Legislature may direct the ADHS Director to spend Fund monies for programs to help people addicted to drugs if: (1) the appropriation is passed with a three-fourths vote of each legislative chamber; (2) the appropriation does not deplete the Fund and leave insufficient revenues to cover the immediate and future costs of the initiative; and (3) the appropriation furthers the purpose of the AMMA, i.e., it relates, in some way, to medical marijuana.
The AG Opinion states that:
“The Legislature may direct the ADHS Director to expend monies from the Fund for programs to help people addicted to drugs if: 1) the appropriation is passed with a three-fourths vote of each house; 2) the appropriation does not deplete the Fund and leave insufficient revenues to cover the immediate and future costs of the initiative; and 3) the appropriation furthers the purpose of the AMMA.
To that end, an appropriation for activities related to distinguishing between medical and nonmedical uses of marijuana, protecting patients and providers from criminal prosecution, or carrying out, implementing, or administering the AMMA would meet this criterion. If these requirements are met, it is not necessary to submit an appropriation request to Arizona’s voters.
