Articles Tagged with AZ MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT UPDATE

ADHS announces final rules for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act on schedule to be published March 28, 2011. Over 2,150 comments were submitted to ADHS regarding the final rules.

February 19, 2011 News Post
Article by: James Novak, Phoenix DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney
According to the official ADHS website, the public comment period for the draft rules closed February 18, 2011 as expected. The ADHS stated their target date to publish the final rules is March 28, 2011.

The ADHS will be reviewing the more than 1,000 comments they received electronically and 150 verbal comments provided during public comment sessions, on this second and final round of soliciting public feedback. Abut 1,000 comments were submitted for the initial draft rules. The ADHS plans to make the comments available to the public in the near future.

When you think about the hundreds of thousands of people who voted one way or the other, on Prop 203 back in November 2010, the number of comments, (approximately 2,150) pales in comparison.

So here we are, with implementation around the corner. Arizona residents were given their chance to vote, and provide constructive input regarding the Medical Marijuana Act rules. Each city in Arizona will administer the Medical Marijuana Law by adopting the final rules as they see best fit for their city.

There will be those who have significant interests or who will be greatly affected by the law, and are still unhappy with the final outcome following all due processes. With respect to those, they have one final option to act: Put simply, move…to another city or state. Like it or not, that’s the way it is.

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Public comments on the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act initial rules obviously had an impact based on the new rules posted January 31, 2011 by ADHS.

February 3, 2011 Post
Article by: James Novak, Phoenix DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney
It seems like just yesterday the votes on AZ Prop 203 were finally counted, and the law passed. Yet, here we are just a few months away from implementation.New revised rules were posted January 31, 2011 on the official ADHS website. The public has until February 18, 2011 to post electronic comments to the revised rules. Revisions were made in part based on comments contributed by the public after the initial draft rules were drafted and posted.

If you are following the events leading to implementation, mark your calendars for the next important dates that were published on the ADHS website:

1) March 28, 2011 – Final rules will be published by ADHS. These rules will l be the ones used for implementation of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.

2) April 2011 – Applications will be accepted and considered by ADHS for patients and caregivers who meet the required qualifications.

3) May 1, 2011: applications will be accepted and considered for dispensary registration certificates by AHDS.

ADHS will consider public comments on the revised rules until February 18, 2011. Based on the amount of changes made which can be viewed on the ADHS website, your opinions on the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act initial rules made a difference. Just the votes, every one was considered and counted. Many had regrets one way or the other if they did not vote when they had the chance on AZ Proposition 203. Don’t pass up another chance to post a constructive comment on the new rules.

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