Arizona Marijuana License

License Procurement Opportunities & Proposition 207

What the Legislation Says:

Arizona’s Proposition 207, “Smart and Safe Arizona Act”, legalizes the sale and possession of one ounce of marijuana, five grams of which can be concentrate, for adults 21 years and older. The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will adopt rules to enforce rules, licensing, fees, and civil penalties. It will also regulate marijuana, marijuana products, marijuana establishments, and marijuana-testing facilities. April 5, 2021 is the deadline for Arizona state legislature to construct the regulatory framework for the adult-use market. Around 150 marijuana establishment licenses will be granted. 

Getting an Adult-Use Marijuana License in Arizona:

The ADHS is responsible for issuing two types of adult-use licenses: 

• Marijuana establishment license 
• Marijuana testing facility

The Department will start issuing licenses to early applicants following the application acceptance period of January 19 to March 9, 2021. Early applicants are either registered medical marijuana dispensaries or entities that are looking to operate a marijuana establishment in a county with less than two medical marijuana dispensaries.

After issuing early applicant licenses, the ADHS will issue marijuana establishment licenses by random selection and according to the rules to be adopted. At least 60 days prior to any random selection, the ADHS will prominently publicize the random selection on its website and other forms of media that interested parties can subscribe to. No later than six months after the ADHS adopt the final rules to implement the Social Equity Ownership Program, it will issue 26 more marijuana establishment licenses to qualified applicants.