Phoenix New Times: “The first state-authorized medical marijuana dispensaries will likely open in Arizona this summer, said Will Humble, director of the state Department of Health Services. Humble . . . said his agency would be awarding the first licenses by mid-June. ‘If someone was really ready to go — they had their business plan and everything ready — we could see some dispensaries in, say, mid-July, maybe early August,’ he said. . . . A new rule package . . . can be done ‘really quickly,’ with dispensary applications accepted in April, he predicts. A lottery for the best applicants in each designated area will likely be held in June, following a 45-day review period, Humble says.”
Arizona Republic: “Arizona officials will not appeal last week’s judicial ruling that the state must allow medical-marijuana dispensaries and cannot restrict who operates them based on where they live or their financial history. Judge Richard Gama’s decision broadened the pool of potential dispensary owners and cleared the way for the state’s medical-pot industry. The only remaining question was whether state officials would challenge the ruling. . . . Also, people with 20 percent or more interest in a dispensary must be listed as the applicant, principal or board member.”
Yuma Sun: “The state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries could be up, running and selling the drug by mid-July. State Health Director Will Humble announced Tuesday he will not appeal a court ruling invalidating some of the rules he had crafted limiting who can own and operate the shops, including a requirement to be a resident for at least three years. Those rules also gave favorable treatment to applicants who had never declared bankruptcy. . . . These include having $150,000 in start-up capital and that the applicant have at least a 20 percent financial interest in the dispensary ‘so you don’t have straw applicants’.”
The comments that the person who has the $150,000 of start up capital must own at least 20 percent of the dispensary is new. Sounds like the Arizona Department of Health Services is going to issue a 5th version of the rules that will be substantially different from the 4th and “final” version of the rules issued last spring. Stay tuned.
