The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) is preparing to dismiss cannabis possession charges.
Following the passage of Proposition 207 last week, the MCAO on Monday announced that it would be dismissing all pending and unfiled charges related to the possession of cannabis or paraphernalia.
Arizona voters approved Proposition 207 with 59.96 percent (1,926,822), legalizing cannabis use for adults over the age of 21.
MCAO says that it is instructing Deputy County Attorneys to file motions to dismiss any charges covered by Proposition 207.
“Instead of continuing to spend resources on these cases, this office will begin implementing the will of the voters immediately,” reads an MCAO statement. “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, but we will file motions to dismiss the charges covered by Proposition 207.”
Cases eligible for dismissal include those that are pending in Early Disposition Court, those currently in diversion, those pending trial, and those set for sentencing or probation violation hearings.
The MCAO will assign priority to cases with court dates and those in custody.
According to the statement, the MCAO will also file motions to dismiss bench warrant cases where every charge is covered by Proposition 207.
