phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES JUNE 16TH– JUNE 22ND, 2022 State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Certifications | CANNABIS | Bills of Health Arizona cannabis bills show industry rifts, but growing acceptance from lawmakers. BY KIERA RILEY funds from the Smart and Safe Arizona Fund to tribal police and fire departments, university police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The other, a strike-everything amendment mirroring a failed senate bill, poses major changes to Arizona’s marijuana licensing process. All marijuana bills introduced in 2022 A bring the legislature’s developing relation- ship with the cannabis business into focus. Bills looking to heighten regulation and decrease criminal sentencing largely failed early in the process, with many failing to grab a committee assignment or see a vote. The bills that did gain traction often saw mixed opinion from those within the broader cannabis industry. Living Legislation Senate Bill 1324 Prime Sponsor: State Senator Thomas Shope, R-Coolidge Status: Passed Senate 27-1 SB 1324 would add joint powers author- ities, tribal police and fire departments, university police departments, and DPS to the list of entities receiving a share of the 31.4 percent of the Smart and Safe Arizona Fund. The fund’s money is generated from marijuana excise tax and licensing fees. The bill met with dissent from some members in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee. State Representative Melody Hernandez, D-Tempe, voted no, and said she heard opposition from stakeholders regarding a recent amendment by State Representative Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, adding DPS. House Bill 2050 Prime Sponsor: Representative Justin Wilmeth R-Phoenix Status: Passed Senate Appropriations 9-1 HB 2050 originally required the Arizona Department of Administration to post a report on the Telecommunication Fund on its website. But a strike-everything amendment, which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 29, requires the Department of Health Services to allo- cate nonprofit medical dispensary licenses in counties without a medical nd then there were two. That’s how many mari- juana bills have survived the 2022 legislative session. One bill would allocate Manish Panghal/Unsplash dispensary or in areas where they are at least 25 miles apart. It also allows any recreational license holders to apply for a nonprofit medical certificate, which would essentially allow any dispensary to sell to both medical and recreational customers. Rural medical marijuana patients continue to be a point of concern in Arizona. In previous reporting by Phoenix New Times, Americans for Safe Access, a Washington, D.C.-based patient advocacy group, gave Arizona a C-minus grade when it comes to patient access. The group noted that co-located dispensaries often create more obstacles for patients, such as higher prices, longer lines, and limited product availability. The amendment is a near-mirror image of failed Senate Bill 1402. The Arizona Dispensaries Association is opposed to the amendment. Lauren Niehaus, director of government relations at Trulieve and a board member of the ADA, said the association wants license authority left with the Department of Health Services. “There can be negative policy conse- quences. There’s nothing to prevent the statute from changing or others from attempting to seek more licenses via statute,” Niehaus said. Copperstate Farms, a member of the ADA, echoed the sentiment. “We didn’t feel there was any reason to change the process that exists,” said Ryan Hurley, general counsel for Copperstate Farms. “So that’s fundamentally why we were against it.” Arizona NORML has remained neutral on the bill throughout talks with other stakeholders. Jon Udell, politics director there, hopes lawmakers can get to a place where the legislation is “promoting the greater good” for the industry. Further Attempts at Industry Regulation Fail Other lawmakers have different ideas about what’s best for marijuana. This legislative session saw attempts to regulate advertising, sales, products, and medical qualifications of the cannabis industry. Senate Bill 1402 Prime Sponsor: State Senator David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista >> p 35 33
