ARIZONA CANNABIS PROGRAM
ARIZONA
STATE STATUS
Medical and adult use of cannabis is legal in Arizona – registered patients may possess, use, and purchase medical cannabis from state-licensed businesses. On November 3rd, 2020, Arizona voters had the opportunity to vote on Proposition 207, also known as the “Smart and Safe Arizona Act,” to legalize adult-use/recreational cannabis in the state. State-licensed Arizona cannabis businesses are allowed to cultivate, manufacture, and dispense marijuana.
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Hemp
Yes
Medical
Yes
Adult Use
Yes
When to Apply?
Closed
News
Arizona Adult-use Cannabis Business Licenses
Arizona Recreational Cannabis Business License:
A marijuana establishment is allowed to operate all of the following:
- A single retail location at which the licensee may sell cannabis and cannabis products to consumers, cultivate cannabis and manufacture cannabis products.
- A single off-site cultivation location at which the licensee may cultivate cannabis, process cannabis and manufacture cannabis products, but from which cannabis and cannabis products may not be transferred or sold to consumers.
- A single off-site location at which the licensee may manufacture cannabis products, and package and store cannabis and cannabis products, but from which cannabis and cannabis products may not be transferred or sold to consumers.
Arizona Medical Cannabis Business Licenses
Arizona Medical Cannabis Business License: Under the current medical cannabis program, the state awarded 130 Dispensary Registration Certificates between 2011 – 2016. A Dispensary Registration Certificate allows you to operate a cultivation, processing/manufacturing, and/or dispensary facility. In 2019, the state passed Senate Bill (SB) 1494, which allows for the additional licensing of Dispensary Registration Certificates based on geographic areas where a previous dispensary moved from and is 25 miles from another dispensary. Due to COVID, the state could not implement the application process for these additional certificates/licenses; initially slated for April 2020, the state did not begin accepting applications until 2023 to award these additional certificates/licenses.
Additionally, the state will issue marijuana establishment licenses based on the below parameters:
- The state may not issue more than one (1) marijuana establishment license for every ten (10) pharmacies
- The state may issue a marijuana establishment license to not more than two (2) marijuana establishments per county that contains no current medical marijuana dispensaries, or one (1) marijuana establishment license per county that contains only one (1) medical marijuana dispensary.
- The state shall accept applications for marijuana establishment licenses from early applicants beginning January 19, 2021 through March 9, 2021.
- Early applicants are defined as either:
- A marijuana establishment seeking to operate in a county with fewer than two registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries.
- An existing medical marijuana business licensee that is registered and in good standing with the state.
- Early applicants are defined as either:
HOW TO START AN ARIZONA CANNABIS BUSINESS
To operate an Arizona cannabis business, you will need the following plans:
- Security Plan
- Environmental Impact Plan
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan
- Business Plan
- Financial Plan
- Community Benefits Plan
- Research Plan
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan
- Labor Compliance Plan
- Staffing and Training Plan
Shop our cannabis business templates today
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application expert to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
ARIZONA CANNABIS TIMELINE
2010 – Arizona legalized medical cannabis
2011 – Arizona awarded 99 Dispensary Registration Certificates (cannabis business licenses)
2016 – State awarded the remaining 31 Dispensary Registration Certificates, bringing the state to a total of 130 cannabis business licenses.
2019 – Arizona passed Senate Bill 1494, amending the current medical marijuana program to include required cannabis testing, additional licensing for Dispensary Registration Certificates, and more.
2020 – Smart and Safe Initiative appeared as Prop 207 on the ballot to be considered for the legalization of adult-use.
January 2021 – State to begin accepting applications for cannabis establishments (only for early applicants)
March 2021 – State stops accepting applications for cannabis establishments
May 2021 – State issues cannabis establishment licenses to qualified early applicants
December 2021 – State accepted applications for social equity applicant licenses.
2022 – State to issue 26 social equity licenses from December 2021 application period.
2023 – Arizona holds application process for medical cannabis dispensary licenses
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"Cannabis Business Advisors is a world-class company. Their tactical and strategic knowledge will guide any business to success. CB Advisors' advice and counsel played a key role in making Strive Life the only locally awarded dispensary in North Dakota."
Dispensary Owner, Strive Life Grand Forks"SARA’S SUCCESS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. OUR COMPANY CONTINUES TO ENGAGE SARA FOR ONGOING CONSULTING AND HER ADVICE REMAINS SOLID AND RELEVANT TO OUR GROWTH."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."WORKING WITH SARA WAS A PLEASURE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITHOUT HER."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner"Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."
Chairman, Solevo Wellness"Sara’s success speaks for itself. Our company continues to engage Sara for ongoing consulting and her advice remains solid and relevant to our growth."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner