By Linda Kor The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has unveiled its annual report regarding those who legally use marijuana under the state’s medical marijuana program. The report shows that medical marijuana users consumed over 19.2 tons of marijuana in 2015, nearly double the amount used the previous year. In 2015 there were a total of 87,733 qualifying patients. Of those, men outnumbered women by a 2-1 margin, with the number of patients under the age of 18 increasing from 119 in 2014 to 149 in 2015. The report shows that Navajo County had 9.47 qualifying patients per 1,000 residents, ranking it 10th among the 15 counties, with Yavapai County ranking first with 20.6 per 1,000. Yuma County had the lowest number of qualifying patients at 4.46 per 1,000. In contrast to prior years, 60 percent of the qualifying patients had two or more debilitating medical conditions. The remaining 40 percent reported one unique condition. Approximately one-third of the qualifying patients listed “severe and chronic pain” as their only debilitating medical condition. The vast majority of what was purchased was in whole marijuana form, meaning leaves and flowers that could be smoked or made into tea. Less than 10 percent of the sales were edibles, including candy bars and drinks. ADHS figures also show that 714 physicians provided certifications to 77,639 patients during this time period and 25 physicians certified approximately 63 percent of the patients. Registry card and dispensary applications brought in $12.3 million in revenues to the state, and expenditures totaled $9.7 million, leaving a net profit of $2.6 million. That total added to the $8.8 million carried over from previous years provided an ending fund balance of $11.4 million. State legislators are reviewing a bill that would legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. House Bill 2007 was introduced as an effort by lawmakers to head off a measure entitled the Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative that will likely go before voters in November. The proposed bill would allow for the growing of up to five marijuana plants at a residence, but it would remain unlawful to smoke marijuana in a public place. The bill would also allow for a tax on the purchase of marijuana at $50 per ounce, with revenues to go to drug education, law enforcement and drug programs. The initiative that would go before the voters has the same age restriction, but would allow people to grow up to six plants in their homes. A 15 percent tax would be levied on the sale of marijuana, and revenue from the tax would be allocated to education and health care.