This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the use of funds from the Medical Marijuana Fund for clinical trials. Under the current law, the Arizona Biomedical Research Center (ABRC) may provide up to $5,000,000 annually for five consecutive years to administer and award competitive grants for marijuana clinical trials. The bill changes this provision by requiring the ABRC to provide $2,000,000 by July 1, 2026, and an additional $2,000,000 by July 1, 2028, contingent upon the Department of Health Services determining that the Fund has sufficient operational expenses without risk of deficit or the need to increase registry identification card fees.

Additionally, the bill mandates the use of the Fund for grants rather than allowing it, and it includes a requirement for the enactment of the amendments to be contingent upon an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature. The current language regarding the ABRC's discretion in funding is replaced with a requirement, thereby tightening the regulations surrounding the allocation of funds for clinical research trials involving marijuana.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-2817, 36-2822, 15-1655, 36-1161, 36-3501, 36-2862, 36-2850, 36-2856, 2021-2022, 36-3291, 36-2812, 36-2803
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-2817, 36-2822, 15-1655, 36-1161, 36-3501, 36-2862, 36-2850, 36-2856, 2021-2022, 36-3291, 36-2812, 36-2803
House Engrossed Version: 36-2822