36-2822. Arizona biomedical research centre; medical marijuana fund; grants; marijuana clinical trials; requirements; exemption

(Added with a 1998 Prop. 105 clause pursuant to L21, Ch. 419)

A. The Arizona biomedical research centre in the department shall provide competitive grants from monies in the medical marijuana fund established by section 36-2817 for marijuana clinical trials that are approved by the United States food and drug administration for evaluating both the safety and efficacy of using marijuana in humans and researching the impacts of marijuana interactions with prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and illicit drugs.

B. Clinical trials funded pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be conducted by Arizona-based researchers from nonprofit organizations or universities, be approved by the United States food and drug administration, the United States drug enforcement administration and an institutional review board and be publishable in peer-reviewed medical and public health journals. The centre shall prioritize randomized controlled clinical trials that study the treatment of autism, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and pain.

C. Notwithstanding title 13, chapter 34, a person who receives a grant for a marijuana clinical trial pursuant to this section and any of the person's employees working on the clinical trial may not be charged with or prosecuted for possession of marijuana that is cultivated for medical use when the person is working on the clinical trial.

D. The Arizona biomedical research centre may provide up to $5,000,000 annually for five consecutive years from the medical marijuana fund established by section 36-2817 to administer and award competitive grants pursuant to this section. The centre may not use more than five percent of these monies for administrative purposes.