Reciprocity

Arizona, located in the southwestern region of the United States, experiences significant cross-border travel with neighboring states. Consequently, Arizonans with medical marijuana cards often question whether their cards are recognized in other states, enabling them to purchase cannabis products while traveling legally. This article explores the concept of ‘reciprocity’ among both neighboring and distant states from Arizona:

Do neighboring states or those further away recognize Arizona’s medical marijuana cards, and what does that mean for Arizonans looking to buy cannabis in other states?

Understanding Reciprocity for Medical Marijuana Patients

To start, let’s clarify what ‘reciprocity’ means in the context of medical marijuana. Reciprocity involves one state recognizing the legal statutes of another. For medical marijuana, it means that a person eligible to purchase medical marijuana in one state can also buy it in another state that offers reciprocity.

Arizona recognizes medical cannabis cards from other states, but certain limitations exist. To purchase cannabis using an out-of-state card, you must be considered a “visiting qualifying patient.” This requires having a valid medical cannabis card from another state and having a medical condition that meets Arizona’s medical cannabis criteria.

States Recognizing Arizona Medical Marijuana Cards in 2024

Several states recognize Arizona’s medical marijuana cards. For instance, Nevada allows Arizonans with valid medical marijuana cards to shop at its dispensaries. Similarly, Rhode Island and Maine recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards, allowing cardholders to purchase under certain conditions.

Additionally, several states far from Arizona offer some form of reciprocity, though with specific conditions. Arizonans should always verify the regulations of the state they are visiting before possessing or purchasing cannabis there, as cannabis laws are continually evolving.

States that reciprocate, albeit with certain conditions, include:

• Arkansas
• California
• Maine
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire (only possession and with strict constraints)
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• Utah