Senate Concurrent Resolution 1032 Summary

• Implements testing requirements for medical marijuana beginning November 1, 2020, including testing for microbial contamination, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth regulators, and residual solvents; restricts pesticide use to only those exempt from federal regulation under 40 CFR 152.25(f).

• Establishes independent third-party laboratory certification and regulation system with requirements for accreditation, quality assurance, chain of custody procedures, and prohibits laboratories from having financial relationships with dispensaries or caregivers.

• Requires development of surgeon general-based warning labels for medical marijuana packaging and mandates dispensaries display signs informing patients of their right to receive certified laboratory test results.

• Creates medical marijuana classification for transaction privilege tax purposes at 5% rate, with revenues designated for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System for seriously mentally ill services; establishes special services unit within department for compliance oversight.

• Authorizes medical marijuana fund grants for research studies on marijuana's safety, efficacy, and correlation with schizophrenia and violent behavior; expands department rulemaking authority for nonprofit dispensary oversight and patient protection warnings.