Back in 2013 a medical marijuana patient (who had a valid ADHS Medical Marijuana Card) was arrested for possession of a small amount of hashing (a preparation of marijuana) in Yavapai County. Even though he had a valid card, he was convicted by a jury of a class 6 felony and spent nearly a year in jail.
Mr. Jones continued to appeal his conviction (State v. Jones). Over the Summer, the AZ Court of Appeals in the case upheld the conviction, maintaining that the hashish that he possessed did not meet the definition of mixtures or preparations of marijuana as defined in the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. An appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court was filed this week.
If Mr. Jones’ appeal is successful, Arizona’s medical marijuana program will stand as is. If it is unsuccessful, it’s reasonable to expect ADHS to completely overhaul their medical marijuana regulations and to impose a completely new regulatory scheme that would exclude extracts, resins, and edibles. Dispensaries and patients would no longer have access to these mixtures and preparations of the Cannabis plant, and dispensaries would be required to discard the instruments and equipment needed under the current regulatory scheme and overhaul their business models to one that focuses exclusively on marijuana flowers.
I filed a Declaration in the case on behalf of Mr. Jones (CR-18-0370-PR). My Brief basically argues that hashish and other mixtures or preparations of marijuana are indeed covered under the voter approved statutory language and the regulations that we developed at the ADHS while I was Director. I filed the Amicus as the former ADHS Director, not in my capacity as the Executive Director of AzPHA. Here’s more background about the core issue.
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act provides qualified patients and dispensaries a number of legal protections under the voter approved Act. The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act definition of “Marijuana” in A.R.S. § 36-2801(8) differs from the Arizona Criminal Code’s definition of “Marijuana” in A.R.S. § 13-3401(19). In addition, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act makes a distinction between “Marijuana” and “Usable Marijuana” A.R.S. § 36-2801(8) and (15).
I expect to see the Arizona Supreme Court to accept the case because this is an important matter of public policy. More to come.
