Judge Rules Fewer Requirements for Owning a Dispensary

More People Eligible to Own Marijuana Dispensaries Now.

Thanks to the lawsuit Compassion First v. Arizona, the rules governing who can own a dispensary have been somewhat relaxed. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama issued a ruling recently that overturned some of the proposed restrictions for dispensary applicants.

Among the proposed rules that were overturned:

• Dispensary owners no longer need to have lived in Arizona for 3 years
• Applicants who have previously filed bankruptcy will no longer excluded

Judge Gama also ordered that Brewer and the state proceed with the application process to approve dispensaries. In his ruling, Gama sided with Judge Bolton and said the state had no right to further delay the implementation of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.

“Defendants cite no authority for this proposition and the court has found none,” Gama said in his ruling. “The voters intended the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act to be implemented within 120 days. This has not been done.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services’ goal is to accept applications this April and potentially have up to 125 dispensary licenses awarded by mid-June.

Rules and Info About Opening a Dispensary

Find more information about owning a dispensary in Arizona by reading the Medical Marijuana Dispensary FAQ by the AZDHS.