richardskinner
01-15-2012, 10:49 PM
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Application Process to Proceed
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 10:01 AM PST
Last May (after receiving a threatening letter from the Arizona U.S Attorneyâ??s Office) the Governor suspended the dispensary portion of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act with a genuine concern that state employees would be federally prosecuted. Last year, we asked the federal court to provide us with guidance regarding the obvious conflicts between the Arizona law and the federal Controlled Substances Act. The federal courtâ??s refusal to address the issue on the merits left many unanswered questions regarding these conflicts. Itâ??s unfortunate that the Federal court and the Arizona U.S Attorneyâ??s Office couldnâ??t provide clarity for us on this issue. However, after careful consideration, the Governor has asked us to implement the dispensary portion of the AZ Medical Marijuana Act.
Our first step will be to review the rules for accepting dispensary applications. Our rules had originally stated that weâ??d accept dispensary applications last June. Obviously, thatâ??s no longer possible- so weâ??ll need to set new application dates using the Stateâ??s rulemaking process. Weâ??re working on those rules right now. The process is complicated by the fact that a lawsuit called Compassion v. Arizona is challenging the scope and constitutionality of our medical marijuana rules. If that lawsuit is withdrawn or settled quickly, we could begin accepting dispensary applications this Summer.
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 10:01 AM PST
Last May (after receiving a threatening letter from the Arizona U.S Attorneyâ??s Office) the Governor suspended the dispensary portion of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act with a genuine concern that state employees would be federally prosecuted. Last year, we asked the federal court to provide us with guidance regarding the obvious conflicts between the Arizona law and the federal Controlled Substances Act. The federal courtâ??s refusal to address the issue on the merits left many unanswered questions regarding these conflicts. Itâ??s unfortunate that the Federal court and the Arizona U.S Attorneyâ??s Office couldnâ??t provide clarity for us on this issue. However, after careful consideration, the Governor has asked us to implement the dispensary portion of the AZ Medical Marijuana Act.
Our first step will be to review the rules for accepting dispensary applications. Our rules had originally stated that weâ??d accept dispensary applications last June. Obviously, thatâ??s no longer possible- so weâ??ll need to set new application dates using the Stateâ??s rulemaking process. Weâ??re working on those rules right now. The process is complicated by the fact that a lawsuit called Compassion v. Arizona is challenging the scope and constitutionality of our medical marijuana rules. If that lawsuit is withdrawn or settled quickly, we could begin accepting dispensary applications this Summer.