While possession of marijuana has been legalized in Arizona, the ability to legally purchase it likely won’t happen until early next year once state officials develop licensing regulations.

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Pima County’s top prosecutor said not much will change locally with the pending legalization of small amounts of marijuana in Arizona.

For years, local law enforcers have hardly ever made arrests solely for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana — the amount about to become legal for adults 21 and older under Proposition 207, County Attorney Barbara LaWall said.

How Did '4/20' Become a Holiday for Weed? One common theory is that it stems from a California criminal code for those who distribute the drug. According to CNN, California's 420 code is actually for obstructing entry on public land. The state's medical marijuana program was created from a bill with the number 420. Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum's Chris Conrad says "4/20" started as a code in Marin County, California, at San Rafael High School. In the 1970s, a group called "The Waldos" would get together at 4:20 PM to smoke pot. The time of the day was convenient as it was right after school ended with no parental supervision just yet. "4/20" became a code word that allowed them to notify each other in front of unsuspecting parents. From there, the phrase likely spread across the country.

Possession charges “almost always” are filed only when someone is being arrested for other more serious crimes, LaWall said in an email interview.

As a result, only a handful of possession cases are before the local courts and those will be dropped when the new ballot initiative takes effect, she said.

Some are for possession of cannabis concentrates such as wax and hashish, which also will become legal in small amounts up to 5 grams.

“Prop. 207 won’t change a great deal regarding law enforcement or prosecution here in Pima County,” LaWall wrote.

“Despite the ballot initiative folks’ claims to the contrary, Pima County law enforcement does not spend their time policing small-time, low-level marijuana crime. They have always focused on far more pressing crime issues,” she said.

Prop. 207 was approved Nov. 3 by Arizona voters with 60% of the vote. Under the Arizona Constitution, ballot initiatives take effect once votes have been counted and certified, which in this case will be by Nov. 30.

Prop. 207 also allows people previously convicted of low-level marijuana possession to have their criminal records expunged .

While possession of marijuana has been legalized in Arizona, the ability to legally purchase it likely won’t happen until early next year once state officials develop licensing regulations for the industry. The state has allowed medical marijuana purchases from licensed dispensaries for several years.

Maricopa County and Pinal County prosecutors have also recently announced they are dropping charges in some marijuana possession cases because of Prop. 207.

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Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or calaimo@tucson.com. On Twitter: @StarHigherEd