HB 2247 proposes the establishment of the Marijuana Regulatory Board (Board) in Arizona, which would take over the administration of state marijuana laws from the Department of Health Services (DHS). The Board would consist of seven members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, and it would be responsible for administering both medical and adult-use marijuana laws. The bill outlines the qualifications for Board members, including requirements for residency, expertise, and conflict of interest disclosures. It also specifies the Board's authority, the appointment of a director, and the establishment of a microbusiness license for marijuana cultivation and sales.

The bill introduces residency requirements for applicants of new nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificates and new marijuana establishment licenses, requiring them to demonstrate residency with at least two specified documents. Additionally, the bill sets a termination date for the Board on July 1, 2034, and repeals related state laws on January 1, 2035. The bill includes a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026, for provisions relating to the Board and requires a three-fourths affirmative vote from each house of the legislature for the provisions to become effective.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-2823, 36-2866, 41-3034.01, 36-2801, 36-2850, 36-2882, 38-211, 36-2883, 36-2884, 38-611, 36-2885