A bill that would have expanded the state's testing of marijuana and ensured a medical dispensary license be active in every county was defeated in the Arizona House of Representatives, 34-24, with two votes abstaining.
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"This is probably the best cannabis bill that had I've seen in a session since 2019," said Mike Robinette, executive director of the Arizona branch of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, or NORML. "This really would have benefitted so many groups."
Although the bill received enough votes to pass had it been regularly proposed legislation, since provisions in the bill would have made changes to citizen passed initiatives Propositions 205 and 207, respectively, it was subject to the state's Voter Protection Act.
That means any proposed changes require 3/4ths of the entire legislature to affirm.
After noting how that sort of requirement for new cannabis legislation can be a double edged sword, both as a deterrent to good and bad legislation, AZ NORML political director Jon Udell said he doesn't see much chance of needed reform through the legislative process.
"I think one of the big takeaways, at least for me, is that when it comes to any really good cannabis bill, it's impossible to do with the legislature. I think you need a referendum. It's the only way."
