http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-935068.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – State Health Director Will Humble said the law gives his agency
120 days after that certification to come up with the rules. That
brings it to late March.
(At that point, the regulatory framework will be in place. That's
the point where people can begin in early April of 2011, that's
the point at which folks will be able to apply to become a
cardholder or a caregiver, and also to apply if they would like
to become a dispensary.)
But Humble said at that point his agency has time to review what
could be hundreds of applications for the 125 dispensaries the
law allows. Then once Humble makes his choices, each of those
dispensaries then needs time to get up and running.
(And remember, they've got to get their cultivation facility up
and running so they have an inventory that's legitimate. I don't
want this to be inventory that comes off the street or from
Mexico or something. This has got to be from cultivation
facilities inside the state.)
What that means is it will be at least next summer, if not next
fall, before anyone who has a doctor's recommendation will be
able to walk into a state-regulated dispensary and get some
marijuana. But Humble said it is an open question whether they
can grow their own until those shops are operating. For Arizona
Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.