About 750 apply to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Arizona
Aug 23, 2016, 4:56 PM
(AP Photo/Ryan Kang, File)
(AP Photo/Ryan Kang, File)
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials recently received more than 700 applications for about 30 available medical marijuana dispensary licenses.
“During the window, we received 750 applications,” Tom Sallow with the Arizona Department of Health Services said.
The applicants are attempting to get their hands on one of 31 dispensary licenses that have been made available by the state.
The state granted 99 licenses during the first round of applications. Of those, 92 are owned by a dispensary that is open and operating.
Competition for the licenses was much fiercer this time around.
“This is the second time that we’ve accepted applications for dispensaries,” Tom Sallow with the Arizona Department of Health Services said. “The first time around, we received just under 500 applications.”
Recreational marijuana use will be on the November ballot as Proposition 205.
If the Marijuana Act passed it would legalize marijuana for anyone over 21 years old. Arizonans would be allowed to have six marijuana plants per house, and marijuana sales would be subject to a 15 percent tax with the revenue from that going to education and health care.
KTAR’s Kaely Monahan contributed to this report.
