Today, January 31, 2011, Arizona Department of Health Services posted its second draft of its proposed Arizona medical marijuana rules. Check back. I will review the second draft of the rule as soon as possible and put up a new article. Here are my first impressions of changes made to the first draft of the rules:
- New: “CHAA” means a Community Health Analysis Area, a geographic area based on population, established by the Department for use by public health programs.
- New: The walls of the cultivation site must prevent anybody from seeing the plants from outside the walls of the facility.
- New: There is a two stage process. Stage 1: Dispensary applies for and received a dispensary registration certificate. Stage 2: apply for a approval to operate a dispensary. A dispensary that has a DRC may apply for a The Department shall accept dispensary registration certificate applications for 30 calendar days beginning May 1, 2011.
- Change: The two year residency requirement went from two years to three years.
- Change: A business plan demonstrating the on-going viability of the dispensary as on a non-profit organization not-for-profit basis. Very interesting!
- Change: The dispensary is not required to grow any of its marijuana.
- Change: Medical directors can serve an unlimited number of dispensaries rather than just three.
- Change: Eliminated the requirement for dispensary agents with respect to surety bonds and failure to file a tax return.
- New: Revoke a dispensary registration certificate if it operates before obtaining approval to operate a dispensary from the Department.
DHS asks the public to submit comments to the proposed rules.
Related story “CHAA on This!”
