| Graphic: THC Finder |
The Arizona Department of Health received 110 electronic applications — almost 60 percent of them for chronic pain — and authorized at least 44 people to use medical marijuana on Wednesday, the first day the program was active.
Their cards were mailed on Thursday, reports Mary K. Reinhart at AZCentral, allowing them to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks, and grow up to 12 plants.
Those who live closer than 25 miles to the nearest dispensary eventually won’t be allowed to grow their own, but until the dispensaries are up and running, all patients are allowed to grow.
About a third of the applications were rejected for various reasons, including problems with physician forms certifying the patient has a specific debilitating medical condition and could benefit from using marijuana.
One physician listed “problems” as the patient’s qualifying medical condition, according to DHS officials. Yeah, that was one of the ones they rejected, dude.
The overwhelming majority — 82 percent — of the applicants were men. Their ages ranged widely. There were no applications on behalf of children.
Applicants are required to submit a photo, a copy of their Arizona driver’s license and their physician certification.
Arizona voters last November approved the use of cannabis to treat certain ailments, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer’s disease.