Although recreational marijuana is legal in Arizona, there are still laws restricting specific uses of cannabis that should be followed.
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Arizona on Nov. 3, 2020, due to Arizona Proposition 207. Known as the Smart and Safe Act, Proposition 207 legalized the taxation and usage of marijuana for adults 21 and older in Arizona.
Even though the law makes recreational marijuana legal in Arizona, there are still certain laws that restrict when, where and how much marijuana someone can possess.
However, the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration recently announced plans to reschedule medical marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. The hearing for the rescheduling of medical marijuana is June 29, 2026, and medical marijuana laws may change depending on the result of the hearing.
Still, cannabis is federally illegal, but it is legal in Arizona due to state laws. To avoid illegal use of marijuana in Arizona, here are some marijuana laws you should know, according from legal experts at the Arizona Cannabis Lawyers Association.
It is illegal to transport medical and recreational cannabis across state lines.
Because cannabis is federally illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, it is illegal to even possess cannabis in an airport, and one could be prosecuted for federal drug trafficking or possession.
If caught at any airport with cannabis, local police may be called, especially if you’re in a state where weed is not legal, according to Sonia Martinez, vice president of the Arizona Cannabis Lawyers’ Association.
However, if caught with cannabis at an airport in a state where cannabis is legal, you will likely be forced to throw the cannabis away and may have your travel plans disrupted, Martinez said.
Yes, adults 21 years of age and older are legally able to have cannabis in their car and often do when transporting it from the dispensary to their home.
However, it is always recommended to transport cannabis in a locked and sealed container or in the original packaging and not within arm’s reach, according to Martinez.
According to Martinez, it is legal to smoke cannabis in a parked car; however, it is not advised, as it can lead to a DUI investigation if seen by law enforcement.
A person would be at most risk of a DUI investigation if they are in “actual physical control” of the vehicle, such as being behind the wheel, even if the car is off. Still, smoking marijuana in the car is not recommended.
According to Martinez, it is a petty offense to smoke cannabis in public in Arizona, typically resulting in a possible fine or penalty.
Arizona’s smoke-free law prohibits anyone from smoking in most enclosed public spaces and places of employment, whether that is marijuana or tobacco.
Fines for a first-time offender can be up to $500, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
A person 21 or older can grow up to six plants in their primary residence, but no household can grow more than 12 plants, even if several adults live there.
Homegrown cannabis plants are required to be grown inside an enclosed area with locks or security devices that prevent minors from accessing them. The plants also cannot be seen from the outside, even with optical aids such as binoculars, according to Proposition 207.
Adults 21 and older can possess up to an ounce of flower or no more than five grams of concentrate, a more potent form of cannabis.
Medical marijuana users may buy up to 2.5 ounces every 14 days.
However, laws become trickier when it comes to homegrown cannabis, according to Martinez.
According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, possessing over one ounce but less than 2.5 ounces is a petty charge with a $300 fine. However, possessing more than 2.5 ounces could lead to a felony.
Growing more than six plants for a single person or more than 12 plants for two or more people is also a felony charge, which can result in seven months to seven years in jail based on how much marijuana is being grown.