The Arizona Republic interviewed Will Humble, the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Fox News: “President Obama pledged during his 2008 campaign to take a hands-off approach to medical marijuana, but four years later raids and other tactics have forced as many as 200 medical-marijuana growers and distributors to cease operations, resulting in sharp criticism from likely voters and fellow Democrats. . . . Obama said the government was not going to ‘prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana,’ but that he never committed to giving ‘carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana’.”
CBS San Francisco: “Eleven people were arrested and thousands of marijuana plants were seized along with several weapons in a massive drug raid Wednesday night at a warehouse in East Oakland, Oakland Police said. Investigators found some 2,500 pot plants, 50 pounds of dried processed marijuana, cash and a variety of weapons in what Asst. Police Chief Anthony Toribio described as a marijuana factory.”
In this radio interview on April 25, 2012, with Steve Goldstein of KJZZ 91.5 FM radio in Phoenix, Arizona, the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services discusses ADHS’ process for adding new conditions for which an Arizona doctor may recommend medical marijuana to licensed patients. The new conditions under consideration are: (1) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder; (3) Migraines; and (4) Depression. The public may give input on these four conditions at a hearing to be held:
May 25, 2012 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
State Laboratory Conference Room
250 N. 17th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
The last day to file an application for a Dispensary Registration Certificate for an Arizona medical marijuana dispensary is May 25, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Today is what I am calling “Bank Day,” the last day on which the entity applying for the dispensary registration certificate or a principal officer of the entity may deposit $150,000 in a bank or financial institution. The Rules and the Arizona Department of Health Services say:
“The documentation must be dated within 30 days before submitting the application and demonstrate that the entity applying for the dispensary registration certificate or a principal officer of the entity has at least $150,000 under their control and has had control of the monies for at least 30 days before submitting the application.”
Today, April 25, 2012, is 30 days before May 25, 2012.
Arizona Republic: “Four new medical conditions could eventually qualify under Arizona’s medical-marijuana program. State health officials are considering whether to add depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and migraines as “debilitating conditions,” which would allow people to legally use medical pot. Arizona would become the only state in the nation to allow medical marijuana for anxiety and depression, said Will Humble, director of the state Department of Health Services”
Times-Herald: “Vallejo police seized more than $135,000 worth of cannabis products from the Life Enhancement Services (L.E.S.) medical marijuana dispensary on Benicia Road on Friday. That same date, April 20, was the city’s collection deadline for dispensaries citywide to remit March’s payment of a new 10 percent sales tax. Eight dispensaries paid their March taxes by the due date, totaling $44,230
Phoenix New Times: “Phoenix police say they intend to submit charges on some of the people involved [in the raid of the Arizona Cannabis Society], including charges related to the production of concentrated marijuana. That brings up the thorny question of whether such concentrates are legal under Arizona’s 2010 Medical Marijuana Act. The answer will become more important in a few months, with the opening of medical-pot dispensaries that plan on selling these type of products.”
Modern Times Magazine: “Arizona would become the first state in the U.S. to approve marijuana use for depression and anxiety if petitions requesting the addition of the conditions are approved later this summer, according to Will Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. . . . Humble posted Friday afternoon that a public hearing would be begin at 1 p.m., May 25, in the State Lab, 250 N. 17th Avenue, Phoenix. The public hearing is the next stage for the four petitions requesting that four conditions be added the list of debilitating conditions that were passed by voters by way of Prop. 203 in Nov. 2010.”
On April 20, 2012, Will Humble, Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, wrote on his blog:
“The voter approved language in the AZ Medical Marijuana Act directs us to periodically accept and evaluate petitions to add new debilitating medical conditions. We’ve made it through the first phase of considering whether to add 4 new debilitating conditions… 1) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; 2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder; 3) Migraines; and 4) Depression. You’ll be able to give us your thoughts about these four conditions at a public hearing next month (May 25th from 1 – 4 p.m. at our State Lab). You can read the information we already have about these four starting next week.
If we decide to add PTSD or any other debilitating conditions, we want to make sure we’re on solid medical ground. I’m heading down to a conference in Tucson next weekend where physicians can get Continuing Medical Education credits for learning about medical cannabis.”
Reason.tv: “Should Charlie Lynch spend the rest of his life in jail, or even a single day, for operating a legal medical marijuana dispensary? The sentencing of Morro Bay, California medical marijuana dispensary owner Charles Lynch has been delayed yet again, this time until June 11. According to Reason.tv producer Ted Balaker, who has followed the Lynch saga from its start, the mood in the courtroom was guardedly optimistic, especially as Judge George H. Wu openly expressed his sympathy for Lynch. “To be blunt, if I could find a way out, I would,” said Wu, referring to mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines that insist Lynch get at least five years in prison. However, Wu summarily dismissed the notion of disregarding the guidelines, claiming it would simply be a “monumental waste of time” because such a decision would be overruled by a higher court. Reason.tv will post a video of today’s proceedings soon. In the meantime, you can follow the case at Lynch’s website, online here.”
Phoenix New Times: “Arizona Cannabis Society, a medical-marijuana caregiver collective featured prominently in a March New Times blog post, was raided today by Phoenix police. Founder Bill Hayes is still being detained, cops say. . . . After a month and a half of undercover work, police served search warrants on three locations related to AZCS. At one location, nearly 900 pot plants were found — yet not a single person involved was a qualified caregiver, [Phoenix Police Sergeant Trent] Crump says. . . . Crump says, evidence turned up that the club was not operating as a non-profit, as Arizona law requires of a medical-marijuana dispensary. . . . In February, Hayes filed a lawsuit against Arizona in federal court in the hopes of changing part of the 2010 medical-pot law. The law allows qualified patients and caregivers to grow pot — but not if they live within 25 miles of an open dispensary. Hayes wants to patients to be allowed to grow pot regardless of nearby dispensaries. . . . Crump says police intend to submit criminal charges against one or more people connected to the Arizona Cannabis Society. . . . See the slideshow [Phoenix New Times] published last month about the AZCS by clicking here.”
Arizona Republic: “A [prospective] medical marijuana dispensary [Advanced Pain Solutions ] is seeking Glendale’s OK to locate closer to a school and a residential zone than allowed under city ordinance. . . . Under the city’s ordinance, dispensaries must be 500 feet from a residential zone and 1,320 feet or quarter of a mile from a school. Toris said the applicant is seeking variances, allowing it to be 425 feet from a residential zone and 1,263 feet from a school, North Pointe Preparatory, 10215 N. 43rd Ave.”
Arizona Republic: “He said the ‘gold rush’ for medical-marijuana dispensary licenses died down in the past year after litigation tied the program up. ‘I just don’t sense the same land-rush type of attitude that we had a year ago,’ Humble said. ‘I don’t think we’ll be overwhelmed with applications’.”
Phoenix Business Journal: “’Had we gone forward in 2011 with the dispensary applications, I think we would have had hundreds of applications.’ . . . he expects that the most that will be awarded is 110 dispensary licenses.”
Chino Valley Review: “While currently no applications for medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation centers are pending for Chino Valley, the town Planning and Zoning Commission is attempting to stay ahead of the curve by presenting to the town council recommendations for local regulation of these type of businesses.”
Here are the important dates for people who want to submit an application to the Arizona Department of Health Services to obtain an Arizona medical marijuana Dispensary Registration Certificate (the first hurdle to get a dispensary license)
May 14, 2012 – First day to submit applications for a Dispensary Registration Certificate. ADHS will refuse any applications submitted before this date.
May 25, 2012, 5:00 pm – No applications for a Dispensary Registration Certificate will be accepted after this date and time.
June 25, 2012 – ADHS finishes reviewing all applications.
July 16, 2012 – Last day for applicants who submitted defective applications to correct all defects.
August 7, 2012 – ADHS announces winners applicants awarded Dispensary Registration Certificates.
The good news is that the application is very short and simple. If your would be dispensary has done all of its homework (per my instructions in “Checklist for Opening an Arizona Medical Marijuana Dispensary“) and is ready to actually prepare and file the application for a DRC, you will find it to be a piece of cake.
Here are the DRC application documents that every prospective Arizona medical marijuana dispensary must use:
1. Dispensary Registration Certificate Application Checklist: Make sure that your applicant has satisfied all of the items set forth in this document.
2. Dispensary Registration Certificate Application Instructions: Follow these instructions when completing the DRC Application.
3. Dispensary Registration Certificate Application: The actual application. Make sure to take a duplicate to the Arizona Department of Health Services when you file the original and ask ADHS to stamp its received stamp on the duplicate. Keep the stamped duplicate in the applicant’s file.
See the ADHS Dispensary Registration Certificate Process flow chart.
Two items to note:
1. When you submit your DRC Application, you must include a copy of the applicant’s Bylaws drafted to comply with the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and the final ADHS rules. To learn more about this important document read “Bylaws – We Don’t Need No Stinking Bylaws or Do We?” and “Bylaws for Arizona Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.”
2. The Application must contain the name of the applicant’s Medical Director. Before you submit the name of a Medical Director you should have a signed contract between the Medical Director and applicant. The application could be put at risk if the Medical Director were to notify ADHS that he/she ceased to be the Medical Director. Do not rely on an oral commitment to be a Medical Director. Read “Clauses to Include in a Contract between a Medical Director & a Dispensary” and ““Why Every Arizona Medical Marijuana Dispensary Must Hire a Primary & an Alternate Medical Director.”
The following was posted on Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble’s blog on April 11, 2012:
The tumblers have clicked, and the race to apply for a dispensary is on. Our revised rules for regulating Medical Marijuana were filed and became official today- and we’ll be accepting applications for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Certificates from May 14 through May 25.
The unofficial rules incorporate the changes that were required by a recent Superior Court Ruling. The judge ordered us: 1) to strike several of the selection criteria we had been planning to use for competitive areas of the state (areas where there will be more than 1 applicant per Community Health Analysis Area); and 2) to implement the law- which is what we’re doing.
You can check out our Registration Certificate Application Checklist, Registration Certificate Application Instructions, and the official Registration Certificate Application on our Medical Marijuana Dispensary webpage. Please don’t try to apply early- the first day we’ll actually accept applications will be May 14. Starting May 14th, every day or so, we’ll refresh our dispensary application page to show how many applications we’ve received by Community Health Analysis Area (CHAA).
We’ll start reviewing applications as they come in (starting on May 14) and we’ll stop taking applications at the close of business (5 p.m.) on May 25. We’ll have 30 working days to review the applications- and applicants will have 20 working days to submit any documents or information that were missing during our review of the application. We expect to award Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Certificates on August 7. If there’s only 1 qualified applicant in a CHAA, that applicant will be awarded a Registration Certificate. We’ll be holding a random drawing in early August to award Registration Certificates in CHAAs with more than 1 qualified applicant.
Please visit our Medical Marijuana website if you have any further questions. The materials that you’ll need to apply are all posted on-line- including the Application Checklist, Application Instructions, and the official Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Certificate Application
The following is the text of an April 6, 2012, press release from Ingrid Joiya of Elements Caregiver Collective:
“The Arizona Department of Health Services has confirmed that the petition to add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a debilitating illness has met the state’s requirements. Elements Caregiver Collective in concert with Compassion First Collective and Southwest Arizona Patient Alliance (SWAPA) presented the petition in January.
Most often associated with veterans who have been in active combat, PTSD can affect anyone who has suffered through a traumatic event. One in five veterans returning from Iran and Afghanistan are affected by PTSD.
Upon hearing the announcement, disability advocate and PTSD patient, Butch Williams said: “This is a great victory for those of us who suffer from this debilitating disorder. Now we can sleep, without fear of a terrifying nightmare, or constantly having to re-live the tragic event that had occurred in our life. This medicine will allow us to reset our thoughts, and understand how to get past what has happened to us. For those that suffer from PTSD, they know that controlling the anxiety and the thoughts that are constantly running through our head is exhausting to say the least; and medical marijuana allows for the anxiety to go away so we can take control of our thoughts.”
“Hopefully Arizona can become a national model for other states to consider adding this diagnosis to their medical Marijuana programs just as New Mexico has also successfully done.” Says Dr. Sue Sisley, Asst. Professor, Arizona Telemedicine Program, U of A College of Medicine. Dr. Sisley awaits DEA approval of her FDA-approved clinical study on the effects of medical marijuana on Veterans suffering from PTSD. In the meantime, the co-sponsors of the petition will work with Dr. Sisley as she conducts observational studies to collect data on these PTSD patients.
There will be a public hearing where DHS will accept public comment
May 25, 2012 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
State Laboratory Conference Room
250 N. 17th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007Elements Caregiver Collective will be hosting a Patient Appreciation Fair on April 15th, celebrating the first anniversary since the Department of Health Services began accepting applications. The fair will be held from 12-4:15 p.m. at Elements, 12620 N. Cave Creek Rd., Suite 1, Phoenix, AZ 85022. All patients and caregivers are welcome to share in the festivities. Free food, educational seminars and free meds will be distributed. Free registration at www.elementsaz.org“
Fox News: Richard Lee “The founder of a Northern California medical marijuana training school said Friday he was giving up his downtown Oakland-based pot businesses after a federal raid bankrupted him. . . . Oaksterdam University offers classes to would-be medical marijuana providers in fields ranging from horticulture to business to the legal ins-and-outs of running a dispensary. It does not distribute marijuana.”
Times-Standard: “According to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, DA investigators were assisting the state DOJ in serving search warrants at The Humboldt County Collective, better known as THC, located in the Myrtletown Shopping Center.
On February 27, 2012, Will Humble, the Director of the Arizona Department Health Services said that during the prior week ADHS finished the final version of Arizona’s medical marijuana rules and sent the rules to the Arizona Attorney General for its approval. That was 39 days ago. What gives? It does not take 39 days for the AG to approve minor changes made to rules it previously approved in 2011.
Will Humble is silent. He said “We’re still on track to be able to accept dispensary applications in April,” but we are now one week into April and ADHS, the AG and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer are not talking about the law, the rules or anything related thereto.
Will my March 10, 2012 prediction, come true when I said the Arizona Governor “will order ADHS to terminate the implementation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Arizona for a second time.”
Press TV: “An Oakland medical marijuana training facility, which billed itself as the nation’s only marijuana university, was raided by federal agents on Monday morning, leaving the building swarming with law enforcement and taped off from all visitors. It’s not yet clear what the specific charges are, but it’s probably unsurprising that the country’s largest operation training medical marijuana professionals would be targeted by federal law enforcement. Reports from local media noted that agents were seen walking from Oaksterdam University with large bags overflowing with marijuana.”
Read also “Feds Raid Oakland’s Oaksterdam,” which starts:
“Monday’s raid was the latest move by the federal government to crack down on California’s thriving medical marijuana industry.”
Denver West Word Blogs: “On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that it had sent another 25 seizure-threat letters to medical marijuana dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools; see details in our original coverage below. However, some language in the letters differed from the first mailing in January. Now, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Walsh confirms one implication of such tweaks: MMJ grows near schools may be targeted next time around. . . . recipients still have 45 days to shut down operations or face the seizure of their property.”
Times-Herald: “For the second time in 30 days, a local marijuana dispensary was raided Friday afternoon. At about 4:25 p.m., Vallejo police officers served search and arrest warrants at Better Health Group, 3611 Sonoma Blvd., police said.”