As previously reported by the Tucson Weekly, a bill, spearheaded by a conservative platform known as American Encore, sought to repeal recreational cannabis in the State of Arizona. However, as of early May, this initiative has been abandoned.
Sean Noble, the founder of American Encore, and the sponsor of the Arizona Repeal Marijuana Legalization Initiative, aimed to reverse recreational cannabis, while keeping the medical marijuana program intact, due to perceived threats to children. Noble initially believed that recreational cannabis allowed for cannabis to be marketed to children,
In an interview with Arizona Capitol Times, Nobel explained that he has changed his opinion on the threat legal cannabis poses to children, that of which was partially influenced by the changing nature of the cannabis political landscape and inadequate research. Recently, medical cannabis was officially reclassified as a Schedule III substance, legal framework that applies to the Arizona market. Though Noble was not targeting medicinal cannabis, the federal government’s acquiescence of the medical benefits of cannabis enshrines a new form of validity.
Regarding Noble’s concerns about advertising cannabis to children, he admitted he was misinformed. “They have not done some of the things that I thought they were doing. I don’t think that they’re specifically marketing gummies and candies and that kind of thing the way that I was led to believe that they were doing,” Noble said. “Maybe they’re doing that in other states. But it’s not happening here in Arizona.”
Historically, cannabis brands cannot create products, strain names and packaging that appeals to children. Strains like Skittles and Girl Scout Cookies are sold under abbreviations, ZKZ and GSC. A few years ago, the popular brand out of California, Jeeter, had to rebrand all of its vape cartridges in Arizona as they were designed to look like juice boxes. Earlier this year, Arizona passed House Bill 2179, a legislature that expands on these restrictions. Under this law, marijuana products cannot imitate or look similar to popular brands known by children. On July 1, toys, cartoons, animated or fictional characters, including Santa Claus, will be banned from cannabis products. The law also restricts marijuana brands from advertising on buses, trains and shuttles, while banning billboards within 1,000 feet of child care centers, churches, recovery centers, parks and any K-12 school.
In the modern era marred by years of cannabis prohibition, it’s unclear how Noble’s efforts would have ensured children from being exposed to cannabis. Regardless, Arizona’s recreational cannabis program remains untouched.