LEGAL MARIJUANA IN ARIZONA

by David Yrigoyen

Now that cannabis is legal in Arizona, there are a few things to know before experimenting, and a few reasons why we should obtain our Medical Marijuana card if we want to use cannabis as an alternative.

Cannabis has been helping people find relief from various ailments for thousands of years. In fact, it has been documented that cannabis has been around for over 6 million years, and a recent discovery can date cannabis’s existence back to over 20 million years. With that being said, here are a few things to know before jumping into using cannabis.

Intro to MMJ

Be mindful of dosing. Cannabis can be safely consumed—and one of the safest substances on this planet—when used correctly. It can be very easy to over-consume cannabis, especially when ingesting it in

edible form, so it is recommended to start low and work our way up. For a new user, the best dose to start with is 1mg to 2.5mg of THC in edible form; monitor feelings after about an hour. For inhalation, start with one or two puffs and wait an hour to notice any feelings. A new user should not exceed 5mg of THC in one serving, unless there is a previous tolerance buildup from prior use, or from other medications (some medications will give a person a higher tolerance for cannabis).

Quality control is important. Some dispensaries will rush out product just so they can sell it. Check to make sure that the cannabis is fully cured and dried (not wet or musky smelling). It is similar to purchasing fruit. Nobody wants the discolored, bruised or under-ripened fruit. Cannabis is no different. Lead with the eyes and nose—if it doesn’t look or smell good, look for other options. Having a Medical Marijuana card in Arizona comes with some perks. Patients may purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of medicine every two weeks. The recreational program (without a Medical Marijuana card) will only allow consumers to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce, with no more than 5 grams of concentrates or extracts (MMJ edibles will also be limited to a maximum of 10mg of THC per package).

When purchasing at local dispensaries, recreational consumers are now taxed at 16 percent. All recreational users are subject to this exercise tax, whereas medical patients are not. To the patient’s benefit, the Medical Marijuana consumer tax is currently 8.2 percent.

There are also less strict age limits imposed for those in need of the Medical Marijuana card. Other benefits may include line jumping, special purchasing hours, access to different products, job security and more.

David Yrigoyen is owner and consultant at Natural Healing Care Center, located at 2231 E Speedway in Tucson. Natural Healing Care Center offers help with acquiring Medical Marijuana cards, as well as finding the cannabis products, dose and regimen best for each patient. Connect at 520-323-0060. See ad, page 2.