PHOENIX — There is a big change coming to Arizona's marijuana industry.
Starting Nov. 1, the state will allow marijuana deliveries for recreational consumers for the first time. Previously, only medical marijuana patients were eligible for home delivery.
“We are thrilled that the Department of Health’s proactive approach and commitment to implementing a well-thought-out delivery program has helped us reach this landmark moment sooner than expected,” Ann Torrez, executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association, said.
The association said the decision will expand consumer accessibility and open access for adult-use consumers across the state.
Arizona legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, leading to a massive boom in cannabis sales. In 2023 the sales topped $1 billion for the first time. Marijuana sales have led to nearly $100 million in tax revenue for the state of Arizona.
Before recreational delivery, one of the largest changes in the industry in the last few years has been in banking. For years, even when only medical marijuana was legal in Arizona, no bank would take the chance of giving cannabis companies a bank account. The fear was, that since marijuana is still a Schedule 1 narcotic and federally illegal, the banks would be inviting federal scrutiny.
But now, some banks are open to cannabis businesses. Some are even publicly traded, though only on the Canadian stock market.
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