(Newser)
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Arizona's voters have opted to legalize medical marijuana, by a margin of some 4,000 votes in a recount that was finalized yesterday. The measure will allow patients with diseases including cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and any other "chronic or debilitating" disease that meets guidelines to buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks or grow plants. Patients must get a recommendation from their doctor and register with state health officials. Arizona is the 15th state to approve a medical marijuana law.
"Now begins the very hard work of implementing this program in the way it was envisioned, with very high standards," says a marijuana advocate. "We really believe that we have an opportunity to set an example to the rest of the country on what a good medical marijuana program looks like." (Click here to read about marijuana soft drinks.)
