Navajo County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Navajo County?

Licensed cultivation of cannabis for medical and adult use in Navajo County is legal under the mandate of the Arizona Medical Act or Smart and Safe Arizona Act (SASAA) and the Responsible Adult Use of Marijuana, now Chapters 28.1 and 28.2 of the State of Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS). ARS Chapter 28.2 Section 36-2850-36-2857 specifies that localities have the option to disallow or limit the number of adult-use cannabis businesses in their unincorporated areas. Navajo County has not exercised this option.

Medical cannabis cardholders are given the right to cultivate cannabis at home, as noted on their card if the residence is more than 25 miles from an operational medical cannabis dispensary. They are allowed to grow as many as 12 plants.

The home cultivation of adult-use cannabis for personal use by individuals who are 21 years old or older is also allowed up to a maximum of six plants at their principal residence. A household with two or more individuals aged at least 21 may have no more than 12 plants. Cannabis must be grown in a room, closet, greenhouse, or any other structure on the property that is enclosed and fitted with a lock or other security system that blocks children from entering. The enclosed space must have walls of stone, cement, or metal that are not less than 10 feet high, with a metal gate an inch in depth. Cannabis odors must not waft outside the enclosure and the cultivation area must be hidden from outside view.

The Adult Use of Marijuana Program, which is Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 9, Chapter 18, requires one of the following licenses issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) in order to commercially cultivate cannabis:

1. The marijuana establishment license authorizes the holder to have a facility purely for adult-use cannabis cultivation or have one facility that houses adult-use cannabis cultivation, product manufacturing, and retail selling to consumers who are 21 years old or older.
2. The nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary license authorizes the holder to do the same but for medical cannabis and cannabis products instead, to be sold by retail only to medical cannabis cardholders.
3. The dual license authorizes the holder to do all of the above activities for medical and adult-use cannabis in a single location.

Applications for all the abovementioned licenses are made on the online ADHS licensing portal.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Navajo County?

Licensed manufacturing of cannabis products for medical and adult use in Navajo County is legal in accordance with ARS Chapters 28.1 and 28.2 of the State of Arizona. As discussed previously, cannabis product manufacturing requires an ADHS marijuana establishment license, nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary license, or dual license. Additionally, an Arizona Food Establishment license and an ADHS written authorization are required for the licensed cannabis product manufacturer to infuse edible goods with cannabis.

Medical and adult-use cannabis home growers may manufacture their cannabis harvests at home legally provided this is done indoors. The processing area must be locked against unauthorized persons and hidden from public sight. Any dust, vapors, fumes, or odors produced by the processing of cannabis must be siphoned through proper air filtration and ventilation systems. The alcohol used in processing must have a flashpoint below 100.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Navajo County?

The State of Arizona’s ARS Chapters 28.1 and 28.2 stipulates that it is legal in Navajo County to sell by retail medical cannabis and cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, and adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to consumers who are 21 years old or older. As stated earlier, doing so requires the acquisition of a marijuana establishment license, nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary license, or dual license from the ADHS.

Licensed medical and adult-use cannabis retailers are authorized to offer for sale raw cannabis and cannabis products such as oils, tinctures, beverages, food items, and others. Adults who are 21 years old and older and who do not have a medical cannabis card may purchase only one ounce of cannabis at a time, with not more than five grams in the form of cannabis concentrate. This is equivalent to the possession cap for adult-use cannabis. Every 14 days, medical marijuana cardholders are allowed to buy up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Navajo County?

ARS Chapters 28.1 and 28.2 of the State of Arizona do not prohibit holders of the ADHS marijuana establishment license, nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary license, or dual license from delivering medical cannabis and cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, and adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to consumers who are 21 years old or older, provided that the county or municipality does not forbid it.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Navajo County

Patients in need of medical cannabis treatment who are residents of Navajo County may apply for the State of Arizona’s electronic medical marijuana card which may be used on a smartphone or downloaded and printed out. The application must be made at the online ADHS Individual Licensing Portal.

Prior to going to the ADHS portal, the patient must be examined by a state-licensed doctor of allopathic, homeopathic, or naturopathic medicine. The physician will complete and sign the Physician’s Certification form once the patient is diagnosed with any of the qualifying illnesses, as follows:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Cancer
• Alzheimer's disease agitation
• Hepatitis C
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Crohn's Disease
• Glaucoma
• Any debilitating or chronic illness or treatment causing any of the following:
• Seizures
• Severe and chronic pain
• Persistent severe muscle spasms
• Severe nausea
• Cachexia

The patient must go to the ADHS portal not more than 90 days after receiving the certification. A PDF copy of the certification must be submitted digitally as part of the application process. The fee is $150 but this may be discounted to $75 for beneficiaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Scanned copies of the eligibility notice or electronic benefits transfer card must be submitted.

If necessary, a patient may designate a caregiver during the online registration process. The caregiver can apply online once the patient's application is approved.

After five days, the ADHS will send the authorized electronic medical marijuana card through the portal. Renewal must be applied for at least one month before its one-year term expires. If the medical marijuana cardholder is aged 21 and above, they may choose not to renew their cards and instead acquire cannabis as age-qualified consumers.

More information may be requested from the following:

Arizona Department of Health Services

150 North 18th Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Phone: (602) 542-1025

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Navajo County?

According to the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR), adult-use cannabis is subject to a 16% marijuana excise tax (MET). Furthermore, both medical and adult-use cannabis are subject to a retail transaction privilege tax (TPT). This is paid to the county and city where the items are sold, as well as to the state.

The state of Arizona earned nearly $465 million from TPT and MET revenues combined from January 2021 to December 2022, based on ADOR data. Around $19 million was gathered by Arizona counties, with the remaining $21 million coming from revenue sharing. This demonstrates that counties are gaining from both medical marijuana and adult-use marijuana legalization.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Navajo County

Medical cannabis was legalized in Navajo County in 2010, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2020.

Data sent by the Navajo County Sheriff's Office to the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in 2009, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 63 marijuana possession arrests and 12 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 75 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2011, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 104 marijuana possession arrests and 33 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 137 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2015, there were 98 marijuana possession arrests and 36 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 134 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2020, the latest data showed 41 marijuana possession arrests and 13 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 54 marijuana offense arrests.

The number of DUI arrests during those years was as follows:

• 2009: 352 arrests
• 2011: 353 arrests
• 2015: 221 arrests
• 2020: 104 arrests