If Prop 203 passes today, we’ll definitely get flooded with phone calls from people that want information on how they can get a license to become a dispensary starting Wednesday. There’s absolutely no way we could ever try to answer the inevitable questions over the phone. Number 1, we won’t have full answers until at least March of 2011 (assuming it passes). Number 2, we don’t have the staff to be able to cover the phones.
If it passes, we’ll be doing all of our communication with the public on-line using a featured site on our homepage that’ll be our information hub. We’d also develop an electronic application for interested folks to sign up for the weekly updates that we’d develop.
I’m recording a video message that we’d post on the featured page that discusses the process that we’d use to implement the law. I’m also recording a voice message for the phone system. The bottom line is that (if it passes) and someone calls ADHS about how we plan to implement the law, whoever answers the phone will refer the caller to the website hub or if they really want to hear a voice over the phone, refer them to my voice message.
Mr. Humble;
How has Mr. Soble been able to open a medical marijuana dispensary without legally having an approved corporation as all of them are pending ? Also, why is he able to start a dispensary without a dispensary application being approved through your office i.e. channel 15 news last night. What guarantee does he have of getting a permit from the city? How can AZDHS prevent bribing
did it pass?
that’s my question as well! he’s going around parading himself as the only way to get a license if it passes- you would be well inclined to take his classes etc. and the media is buyig it 100%…DOES HE HAVE INSIIDE INFO?
No, he does not. If it passes, we’ll be doing all of our communication with the public on-line using a featured site on our homepage that’ll be our information hub. We’d also develop an electronic application for interested folks to sign up for the weekly updates that we’d develop.
It’s probably for the best that this did not pass! Many people probably would have move straight there & would be crazy over populated. I saw this on the news just the other day, many people are probably upset.
2000 new Jobs are urgently waiting on the outcome of this vote! That’s nothing compared to the many thousands of Arizonans suffering with deadly and debilitating conditions that would benefit from this!
Sobles storefront looked alright, but judging from what he has said and his website, I’d hope he didn’t get any license at all! His car salesman antics and self promotion, especially the flashing pot leaves and doctor referrals listed on his website probably cost us 1% of the vote from people scared of California like scenarios! Patients need this! If Medical Marijiuana loses by a thread, I’ll attribute some of the blame to the “potshop” wannabe’s that just had to be the center of attention! They most likely would have never even gotten the green light from AZDHS anyway, what a joke!
Alan Sobol’s self aggrandizement probably was the difference in this vote. He is exactly what people feared about medical marijuana. It is sad that so many people who are needlessly suffering will not have the relief they deserve. If Prop 203 does miraculously pass, Alan Sobol should have nothing to do with the dispensaries. He has already said that he “will move on to another state.” That says is all. I highly suggest he moves anyway. His name is already tarnished and those in need of medical marijuana will NEVER forget his antics.
Since Mr. Sobol’s the only one in Arizona holding himself out as an “expert,” he received exceptional media coverage. This coverage has been a negative factor and pushed those who could have cared less about the initiative to vote “no” against it. If this Proposition loses, he has noone to blame but himself.
For some reason, Mr. Sobol holds himself out to be “the” expert in AZ regarding Medical Marijuana – by sending press releases, by interviewing with the media as “an owner of a dispensary,” even conducting “classes” as an “expert” regarding dispensary ownership. What exactly makes him an “expert?” Does he own a dispensary? What leads him to believe that he will be able to procure a dispensary license (there would only be 124 available).
It appears that Mr. Sobol’s antics backfired by striking fear in the hearts of the residents of Arizona by showing them what a “California style” marijuana dispensary looked like. How helpful was it to the “No on 203” movement to have his “dispensary” shown on the front page of the Nov 2nd Arizona Republic? How many people decided to vote against it based upon seeing the Republic article?
If his intention was to “help” the proposition pass, he failed. If it was to strike fear into the voters who otherwise wouldn’t care about it to vote “no,” then his selfish powergrab was a success.
J Amster-
The Arizona Department of Health Services has no current affiliation with Mr. Sobol.
Pretty upset about the marijuana update.
Will and Co.,
Don’t believe the hype this will pass; call it a hunch. There has been a very favorable trend supporting 203 in votes coming in from Early and Provisional ballots in Maricopa County! That’s 90% of what’s left to tally and Early Ballots in Coconino County (supported 203!) are a majority of the others remaining! This was a perfect storm in terms of being a conservative voting cycle, but it looks to me like that won’t be enough to kill medical marijuana in Arizona this year. I know there are many thousands of people hoping and praying that I’m right and those are the people that this will truly benefit from it passing.
Just giving you a heads up, I know you folks have a daunting task ahead of you when it passes. Hope you had a good Veterans Day.
I don’t understand….the votes are NOT final! Secty of State website has updates you can look at….assuming it’s not going to pass just spreads more speculation and blaming. At this point it is ahead on the yes side…but more ballots to be counted still! Be patient!
My wife and I watched the news the night before the election and was horrified when Alan spoke of it being a billion dollar industry. This is supposed to be non profit. He is in it for the money and that’s it! He better not get a license! This is the biggest reason the california co-ops get busted. They are actually for profit companies that sell any quantity as long as you have the cash. Strict enforcement on amounts being sold will help curtail the for profit shops. If we are one of the 125 to get a dispensary license, we’ll treat it as a compassion provider with lower prices than California co-ops. There is no reason for $100+ for a 1/4 oz when the dispensary can grow it legally! True patients can’t afford that.Let’s do it right here in Arizona.
RayJay
We have a great team in place, and I am confident that they will do what’s best for the State of Arizona.
I did visit the website you mentioned Mr. Humble and there is still no way to sign up for a mailing list to keep up to date on the process for licensing and regulations. Do you know when you plan to implement it?
Franco-
As of this morning the website has been updated, and you can sign up to receive all of the latest information via email.
Get to work Will………… =)
2000 new Jobs are urgently waiting on the outcome of this vote! That’s nothing compared to the many thousands of Arizonans suffering with deadly and debilitating conditions that would benefit from this!
It is official… Prop 203 has passed… I live in a very small community (120 folks) very rural… on Old Route 66… with a huge volume of visitors …..I am very concerned that our little town will become a grow area because we are more than 30 miles from any town of size… we have no police presence, and a very large part of our community would qualify for the card… would a small town like ours be better off with a dispensary, rather than having hundreds of plants growing all over our town…. Most of our residents are elderly… I am very concerned that we will become the target of criminals.. thinking they can rip off the old people growing medicine in their homes… will small towns be able to get a dispensary?
Geri,
Yes, any town within the State of Arizona will be eligible to apply for a dispensary license.
ok, it passed…now where is the link to this “featured site” explaining the dispensary application requirements and process?
Please visit azdhs.gov for up to date information.