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SB1681 • 2026

medical marijuana; registration certificates

SB1681 - medical marijuana; registration certificates

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Thomas "T.J." Shope
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill requires a three-fourths vote in both houses to become effective, which is an unusual threshold.

SB1681: New Rules for Nonprofit Medical Marijuana Registration Certificates

This bill allows certain existing marijuana businesses that are not already dual licensees to apply for a certificate letting them sell medical marijuana at their current retail location.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows qualified marijuana establishments in good standing, which are not currently dual licensees, to apply for a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate.
  • Requires the department to accept applications starting August 1, 2026, and issue certificates before October 1, 2026.
  • Authorizes businesses with this new certificate to dispense medical marijuana only at their existing retail location where they already sell recreational products.
  • Prohibits these dual licensees from operating any additional off-site locations for growing or making marijuana products.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Marijuana establishments currently in good standing with the department that are not already dual license holders
  • Registered qualifying patients and designated caregivers who receive medical marijuana at these specific retail locations

Terms To Know

Dual licensee
A business authorized to operate as both a recreational retailer and a nonprofit medical dispensary under this new rule.
Good standing
The status of a marijuana establishment defined in section 36-2850, meaning it follows current laws and rules set by the department.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only takes effect if at least three-fourths of the members in both legislative houses vote to approve it.
  • Businesses cannot use this certificate to open new off-site locations for growing or manufacturing marijuana products.
  • The bill does not specify how much money is needed as an application fee.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Health and Human Services: None

  4. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1681 - medical marijuana; registration certificates

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB1681 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
medical marijuana; registration certificates

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1681

Introduced by

Senator
Shope

AN
ACT

Amending title 36, chapter 28.1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-2823; relating to marijuana.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Subject to the requirements of article IV, part
1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, title 36, chapter 28.1, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-2823, to read:

START_STATUTE
36-2823.

Issuance of additional nonprofit medical marijuana registration
certificates; qualifications; timeline; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law to
the contrary, a marijuana establishment that is in good standing with the
department and that is not currently a dual licensee may apply to the
department for a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration
certificate.

B. after a qualified applicant
submits a complete application and the application fee, the department shall
issue a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate to the
qualified applicant.� The department shall accept applications beginning August
1, 2026 and shall issue the nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration
certificates before October 1, 2026.

C. A marijuana establishment that
obtains a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate
pursuant to this section is a dual licensee.

D. Notwithstanding any other law to
the contrary, a person that becomes a dual licensee pursuant to this section:

1. Is authorized to dispense
marijuana to registered qualifying patients and registered designated
caregivers only at the same retail location from which the person sells
marijuana and marijuana products to consumers pursuant to chapter 28.2 of this
title.

2. Is not authorized to operate any
additional off-site cultivation or off-site manufacturing
locations.

E. For the purposes of this section,
"dual licensee", "good standing" and "marijuana
establishment" have the same meanings prescribed in section 36-2850.

END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Requirements for
enactment; three-fourths vote

Pursuant to article IV, part 1,
section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2823, Arizona Revised
Statutes, as added by this act, is effective only on the affirmative vote of at
least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature.

Sec. 3.
Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that
is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative
immediately as provided by law.