The number of nonprofit dispensary licenses (all licenses in AZ are non-profits) available is one (1) license for every (10) Arizona pharmacies. Local governments may pass zoning restrictions.
Arizona most recently issued new cannabis business licenses on April 1, 2020 according to the requirements of Senate Bill 1494. There has been no specific date set for the next round of accepting licenses. It's never too early to start preparing for when the rime comes!
The department will accept dispensary registration certificate applications for 10 working days beginning 30 days after the Department posts on the ADHS website that it will be accepting applications. The department gets to decide when they want to accept new license applications and will announce the application window.
It's important to know if there is a limit on the number of dispensaries. If there is a limit and the limit has already been met then you may have to wait until there is a change to that limit or should consider establishing a dispensary in a different state or purchasing a dispensary license instead of applying for a new license if none are available. Knowing the number of cannabis business licenses in a state is also important because that information is helpful in understanding the level of competition on the state which will affect your financial plan and marketing strategy.
Senate Bill 1494
36-2803.01. New dispensary registration certificates; issuance; priority; requirements; definition
A. Beginning on April 1, 2020, the department shall issue all new nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificates in the following order of priority based on the dispensary's geographic area as described in the registration certificate application:
1. The geographic area had a registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary move from the geographic area and the geographic area is at least twenty-five miles from another dispensary that has been issued a dispensary registration certificate.
2. The geographic area is at least twenty-five miles from another dispensary that has been issued a dispensary registration certificate.
3. According to rule, if there are no dispensary registration certificate applications as described in paragraph 1 or 2 of this subsection.
Proposition 203
36-2804. Registration and certification of nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries
C. The department may not issue more than one nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate for every ten pharmacies that have registered under section 32-1929, have obtained a pharmacy permit from the Arizona board of pharmacy and operate within the state except that the department may issue nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificates in excess of this limit if necessary to ensure that the department issues at least one nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate in each county in which an application has been approved.
