With the passage of Proposition 207, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) will be dismissing all pending and unfiled charges of possession of marijuana and any associated paraphernalia charges that are before this office.
Instead of continuing to spend resources on these cases, this office will begin implementing the will of the voters immediately.
MCAO said in a press release Monday they are instructing Deputy County Attorneys to file a motion to dismiss any charge covered by Proposition 207. If those charges make up the entirety of the charges of the case, the entire case will be dismissed. If there are other felony charges the case will remain pending, motions will be filed to dismiss the charges covered by Proposition 207.
This will include all cases pending in Early Disposition Court, those currently in diversion or pending trial, and those set for sentencing or probation violation hearings.
Priority will be given to cases with court dates and those in custody. The office will also be filing motions to dismiss bench warrant cases where all the charges are covered by Proposition 207.
Arizona voters approved Prop 207 last week, which allows anyone 21 or older to legally have up to 1 ounce of cannabis.
The 16% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana will help fund community colleges, public safety, public health programs and roads and highways.
The legalization of marijuana in the state Arizona has been predicted to generate around $300 million annually for the state.
