Authors of a 2020 ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana for adults in Arizona specified that a cut of the revenue go to local police and fire agencies.
Gov. Katie Hobbs recently signed a bill which more clearly defines state law on how the money gets divided among those eligible.
Prop. 207 earmarked nearly a third of the money from marijuana sales taxes, dispensary fees and penalties for city police, county sheriffs and local firefighters. This cash was to be divided based on the number of staff each agency has enrolled in the public safety pension system.
Language just added to state law enshrining the 2020 ballot measure reflects the authors’ intent, said cannabis attorney Jon Udell.
“I would expect the operating expense for Phoenix’s Police Department is wildly greater than the operating expenses for, let’s say, Benson Police Department,” he said.
Udell also directs the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He said additional new language in state law is to make sure that small-town public safety agencies can also get marijuana money.
