The battle to legalize marijuana in Arizona has been an uphill struggle. Even though voters approved legalizing medical use as long ago as 1996, it didn’t actually become law until 2010, and it would be another ten years before it was made legal to purchase and use cannabis recreationally throughout the state.
But that’s all in the past: just weeks after the Smart and Safe Arizona Act passed in November 2020, medical dispensaries welcomed their first recreational customers. Since then, combination medical and recreational use dispensaries have popped up throughout the Valley, increasing numbers of them with elaborate or luxurious décor. For example, Cannabist in Tempe features a lobby filled with trees while The Mint is home to the nation’s first cannabis-infused kitchen.
Now, purchasing cannabis for recreational at one of these dispensaries in Phoenix tops our list of the best things to do in the city. Just know the rule before you shop: you need to be 21 years or older and have a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card. With that, you can purchase up to 28 grams of flower per day, five grams of which can be in the form of vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, tinctures and/or topicals. Don’t be surprised by the final total. You’ll pay a fairly hefty 21.6 percent tax in Phoenix on your recreational purchase. Otherwise, happy toking.
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