Under the provisions of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act we had 120 days to get the entire program up and running. A short timeframe for this complex program (to say the least). That gives us until close of business on April 13, 2011 to have everything ready. That means we’ll need to finish the Rulemaking (our goal is March 28), including finishing the regulatory system for approving, renewing, and revoking the registration of qualifying patients, designated caregivers, nonprofit dispensaries, and dispensary agents. We also need to be finished with the development of a sophisticated information technology system that’ll track a whole host of data, including on-line application systems for patients, caregivers and agents. The on-line applications will be ready for testing next week. By the way, the applications for qualified patients, caregivers and agents will be 100% electronic with no-walk in traffic. There are dozens of moving pieces right now, but pretty much everything is on track
We released our first “Notice of Intention to Bid” to find a contractor for secure registration cards and printer equipment today. The idea is to find a vendor for the next year that will provide the cards, printer equipment, accessories, installation, technical support, training and equipment maintenance for the cards that we’ll be issuing for qualified patients, caregivers and dispensary agents. We’ll be paying for this service with the card application fees that we’ll be collecting starting next month. The bid is called ADHS11-00000543 on Procure AZ and it closes Friday, March 18 at 3 p.m.
Mr. Humble,
This is now my third post to your series of blogs regarding prop 203 and it’s implementation as law, however only one has made it to be posted. Technical errors or censorship, unlike the people I don’t want you to answer why they weren’t posted nor do I want you to answer only posts where you can copy and paste the reply ” See draft rules”. Sir, I demand an answer to my question and it must be thought out, sir, I know you can handle this, I have faith in you.
I understand that the final rules have not been posted, however, I find it curious that the general public and some of our so called “sponsors” have lobbied to have post traumatic stress disorder added to the list of medical conditions in the law. This has not happened. If you say you are representing the people and implementing our input into refining prop 203 as it becomes law, why has it not been added in the drafts? This request has been brought up numerous times and I don’t have to provide you with the evidence, AZDHS has posted this in numerous areas of your website, the media has it in there articles, heck sir, you can google it and it’s that prevelant that it will show. This seems to garner to your critics that you are not implementing this law in accordance with your various statements that you will follow the will of the public. In case you missed it, SIR, WE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SEE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ADDED TO THE LIST OF APPROVED CONDITIONS.
The negative publicity garnered by AZDHS during this whole process may be some what unwarranted but you cause yourself and your organization and the fairness of the implementation of the law some grief. We demand transperancy as well. If you have not added conditions to your list, I believe we should be given a statement on why that condition was not added. When there is no inclusion of the public will, we want an answer as to why, when the amendments are debated behind close doors, it gives credence the conspiracy theorists and the “Big Brother” followers. Transperancy, Mr. Humble, you ask for it from the powers of government that run your life and we ask for it from you when we are in our time of need. I say that because this medication that can stave off serious pain and we need that.
Lastly, Mr. Humble, I want you to know the voice of the general public. I’m a twenty-five year old veteran of two year long tours in Baghdad, Iraq ( March 2004- March 2005/ October 2006- January 2008 ). I volunteered for all of it because I believed my country and its citizens to ask that of me. I saw alot Mr. Humble and when I lay awake in my forty- seventh consecutive hour, waiting for my body to go in to a deprevated sleep state, what do you think bothers me more, the anxiety of knowing what I saw or the anxiety of know I’m on my seventh medication for post traumatic stress disorder and it’s still not working. Compact that with my sleep condition, of which I stopped taking after my fifth perscription because of the intensity of the nightmares, Mr. Humble, I need help. The help I’ve recieved from reputed organizations hasn’t worked, I need alternatives, I need help. As a member of the general public, my word is my bond and when I say things, I mean it. I can prove all of this post directly to you. I understand that there are frauds in the world but they’re the two percenters that ruin it for the rest of us. Are you the 98% or the 2%, sir? By being an official that we rely on to be fair and impartial, your word has to be your bond. Some of us, the ill, cannot bear much more of the short stick. I’m an American, sir, I have the purple heart to prove it. I fought for and defended my country under an oath, a mere pledge. If my pledge took me into harms way then your pledges to us should be true.
He really can’t add anything by state law, there is a process involved to add any conditions.
36-2801.01. Addition of debilitating medical conditions.
THE PUBLIC MAY PETITION THE DEPARTMENT TO ADD DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR TREATMENTS TO THE LIST OF DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 36-2801, PARAGRAPH -3-. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSIDER PETITIONS IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY DEPARTMENT RULE, INCLUDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND HEARING. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPROVE OR DENY A PETITION WITHIN ONE-HUNDRED-EIGHTY DAYS OF ITS SUBMISSION. THE APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF A PETITION IS A FINAL DECISION OF THE DEPARTMENT SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO TITLE 12, CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE 6. JURISDICTION AND VENUE ARE VESTED IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.
He could add it as a public citizen after implementation but so could you.
You have accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time. There must be a lot of sleep deprived people in your department. Thank you, to all of you, for all your effort.
Yes thanks for all the effort, but please stop now and review. The 120 day part is going to happen whether or not you have all the pieces in order. Please stop and start over. There are already complaints and unanswered questions and yet you press ahead behind closed doors.
Really, really, wonderful work. Kudos to you and the whole staff over there!
You have accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time. There must be a lot of sleep deprived people in your department. Thank you, to all of you, for all your effort.
You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve read a single thing like that before.
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Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is required
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