By now you probably know that Proposition 203, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, appears to have passed after all (although the final determination will actually be made when the election is certified on November 29). The Act identifies ADHS as the organization that’s responsible for carrying out the provisions of the law. There will be several teams of folks here at ADHS that’ll be working hard during the next 4 months or so as we set up the regulatory network. We’ve set up a featured site on our homepage that’ll be our information hub for communicating with the public as we make decisions in preparation for implementing the Act. The website contains (and will continue to contain) all of the relevant public information that we’ll have regarding our implementation activities. You can also sign up to receive weekly updates on the site.
Implementing the Act will take at least 4 months… and we expect to be able to accept our first applications for medical marijuana (Cannabis) cards and dispensaries in early April, 2011. In the mean time, we’ll be developing the Administrative Code (Rules) for actually operating and regulating the program. Here is our schedule for Rule development:
December 17, 2010: ADHS posts an initial informal draft of the Rules.
December 17, 2010 – January 7, 2011: ADHS receives informal (electronic) public comment on the initial informal draft Rules.
January 31, 2011: ADHS posts official draft Rules for public comment.
January 31, 2011 – February 18, 2011: ADHS receive public comment on a revised draft of the Rules.
February 15 – 17, 2011: ADHS holds 3 public meetings about the draft Rules
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 – 1 pm, 250 N 17th Ave., Phoenix
Wednesday, February, 16, 2011 – 1 pm, 400 W. Congress, Room 222, Tucson
Thursday, February 17, 2011 – 1 pm, 250 N 17th Ave., Phoenix
March 28, 2011: ADHS publishes the final Rules that will be used to implement the Act.
April 2011: ADHS begins to accept applications for registry identification cards and for dispensary certificates.
Our goal is to put together a responsible set of regulations between now and April 2011 with the rule package that will capture the core of the Initiative’s intent while placing some checks and balances in the system to prevent some of the excesses that have occurred in other states that have medical marijuana laws (CO, CA, MT etc.). I also want to make sure that our implementation activities are completely transparent and that everybody has equal access to information. By using an inclusive process we’ll ensure that we’re getting the best input we can as we implement this new program.
We look forward to Arizona setting up sensible regulations that support patients and the responsible use of medical cannabis in the state. It seems that Arizona is headed in the right direction and likely will be the model for a smart medical cannabis program that includes a dispensary system to serve the patient community.
Will,
You seem like an intelligent, sensitive, articulate human being and I trust you and your team will put forth an honest effort to implement Prop 203.
I look to forward to providing my input when appropriate.
Thank You.
Great! Thank you Jeff!
Mr. Humble,
After viewing your introductory video I have faith that you and your team will implement medical marijuana in a fair manner and timely fashion.
I look forward to seeing what you all come up with for regulations, and I will be sure to provide feedback and attend the public meetings.
Thank you.
Thank you Jason!
Mr. Humble,
Thank you, for the thought process you and your team have put into this. Thank you for looking to the citizens of Arizona for input and a place where we can stay informed.
I look forward to the process and being involved.
I am a legal MM patient in Colorado for a few more months, before that I was a legal MM patient in California for 10 years. I have a atypical Parkinson’s and Dystonia. I really don’t want to go to a doctor three or four times just to be legal here. I hope there can be some acknowledgement of previous legal patient status, and it can be applied to here.
Why does it work for me? With Parkinson’s the brain’s ability to make dopamine is lessened. A main active component of MM is THC, inside a THC molecule is a dopamine molecule!
When I took dopamine directly in prescriptions such as Requip, I was violently ill 2-3 hours a day. I started taking MM to stop the nausea and vomiting from the Requip.
I saw such an improvement, I tapered off the Requip, and now use only MM and analgesics like aspirin or Tylenol. Perhaps the few additional hydrogen atoms in THC compared to dopamine act as a buffer against nausea.
I was diagnosed in 2000, I had a very hard time the first three years, then MM changed all that, I can even run and jump again!
Mr.Humble,
It would make sense to me if a cultivation site was located in the same building it would actually be better to moniter, package and bar code- without a risk of transporting from one location to the next.The danger of transporting with the possibility of theft,a car accident, someone stalking the delivery person.The prop 203 also states you cannot transport unless you are moving, I think.
what do you think? Most of the proposed zoning requirements for the cities are requiring the cultivation center to be in a different location than the actual dispensary.
Thank-you in advance for your comment.
Deborah-
Our team at ADHS will take all suggestions into consideration when putting together the draft rules/regulations. Thanks so much for your input!
Will
Douglas- i love to hear stories about the “true” reason we passed this bill. i’ve been suffering with crohn’s disease for 21 years and people who are healthy or just think mm is a ploy to legalize the “high” don’t get it. I really hope people like us are invited to become intimately involved in the process since we are the ones who are affected. i am going to be applying for a dispensary license for the RIGHT reasons- not to come into AZ to make a buck and then move on- i really want to help people and am overjoyed that we’re on the right track! stay well!
Steven-
We have not considered any vendor for a medical marijuana dispensary license, and will not begin to do so until next year. I assure you that everyone will have a fair chance for a dispensary license. We are in no way, shape or form affiliated with anyone at this point.
Thanks,
Will
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a retired businessman currently residing in Green Valley, AZ. I reside in both California and Arizona. My wife and I are keenly interested in applying for a Permit/License for a Medical Marijuana Distribution facility here in Arizona. We’re not clear in what steps/procedures to take to ahcieve this goal. What steps do we take to process an application and where might we begin the process? Please advise. Thank you.
Mr. Miller-
Our team is still working on the rules and regulations for prop 203, and have 120 days to do so. We do not have any further information available other than what is on our website: http://www.azdhs.gov.
PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS A SET OF RULES TO GO BY IF A PATIENT IS QUESTIONED BY POLICE AS TO WHY YOU HAVE CANNABIS ON YOU.SHOULD I CARRY AROUND A LETTER FROM MY DOCTOR?
Michael,
Please consult an attorney regarding your question.
I want to thank you for ALL your hard work that will be coming in the next 4 months as you strive to set up the best and most efficient medical marijuana system for Arizona. I have suffered with severe chronic pain, Fibromylagia and Spondylitis since I was 18 years old and look forward to this system being up and running. After 7 car accidents (none were my fault), 13 surgeries..#14 is pending right now and even a spinal column stimulator implant I am still in excrutiating pain 24/7. I have several friends in less drastic condition than I that are on medical marijuana and it has helped them tremendously. I look forward to trying it for myself and plan to attend the meetings if I am able. Most days it is all I can do to get dressed and make it to my couch so I rarely leave my house – but I will certainly try. THANK YOU!!!
Mr. Humble,
You asked me to refer to Prop 203 specifically 36-2818(C), are you trying to tell me that I have to wait 140 days even if I have a signed notarized letter from my physician?
Thanks for the clarification,
Dave
yes
Will–I don’t understand how a dispensary will have marijuana once you approve the dispensary. Can you explain to me how that is possible from ground zero? Will you offer some kind of 30 day waiver where a dispensary can procure a supply for patients????
Daniel-
Our team is working on a daily basis to write the rules and regulations for medical marijuana…it won’t be until this is complete that we can answer these type of questions. Please visit http://www.azdhs.gov, and sign up for the automatic email updates to keep youself informed.
Lets just hope that Arizona would implement these sensible regulations that support patients and the responsible use of medical cannabis in the state.