Arizona’s 25-Mile Cultivation Is Law About to Open Up

Uncle Herb’s, the only dispensary in Payson, is considering relocating to the Valley next year. If it does it will open up an enormous area for medical marijuana patients to reobtain personal cultivation rights because there wouldn’t be any dispensaries within 25 miles of Payson.

The Payson dispensary has been opened for three years and, the owner of Uncle Herb’s, Andrew Provencio, mentioned to the Payson Planning and Zoning Committee that he will likely relocate to the Valley in 2018, reports the Payson Roundup. Provencio said his sales would probably increase by as much as 80% if his dispensary was in Phoenix.

Under Arizona law dispensary licensees have to stay in their designated area for three years before they can attempt to relocate.

Provencio would leave his cultivation facility, kitchen and production facility in Payson, which would leave about 20 jobs to locals, but the current town code doesn’t allow it.

In order to reduce an economic impact on Payson, the town’s commission recommended that the town accept new changes that would allow off-site cultivation facilities for dispensaries, which would allow Uncle Herb’s to maintain is Payson cultivation facility and employees while operating in Phoenix. Another code change recommended is allowing two dispensaries instead of one.

If Uncle Herb’s does relocate to the Valley, the Payson area will become a medical marijuana cultivation mecca for patients.

Photo: fb/UncleHerbsGeneralStore