Who else is excited about the billion-dollar adult-use cannabis market in Arizona?
Our Arizona Cannabis License Consultants have been eyeing this market for some time. **Update: Adult-use cannabis became legal in Arizona as of November 2020**
As shown by the current medical marijuana market in Arizona, the adult-use cannabis market yields tremendous potential.
Despite the pandemic-induced recession, medical marijuana sales in Arizona are projected to exceed $770m in 2020. Additionally, medical marijuana retail sales in Arizona reached 18,0893 pounds in May, which is an increase of 20% from January.
If that’s not enough proof, as further support, 65% of the state’s population indicated that they would “definitely” vote for cannabis legalization.
It is without a doubt that the Arizona adult-use cannabis program will begin within a few years. The state’s medical marijuana program has proven successful, and after losses from the pandemic, the state could reap tax benefits from the introduction of an adult-use cannabis market.
If all goes as planned, the Arizona adult-use cannabis program can begin by spring 2021.
For your convenience, our Arizona cannabis consulting team diligently reviewed and summarized the Safe and Smart Act, which covers regulations surrounding the looming adult-use cannabis industry.
As a cannabis consulting firm focused on permit acquisition, we focused on areas of the act related to cannabis licensing in Arizona. Below you will find expert advice from our team.
Advice From Arizona Cannabis License Consultants
Know Your License Types
For starters, let’s discuss the types of cannabis licenses that Arizona will issue.
In short, Arizona will issue two types of adult-use cannabis licenses:
- Marijuana Establishment License (vertically integrated operation)
- Marijuana Testing Facility License
Indeed, the issuance of only two types of licenses is unique to Arizona. Typically, our cannabis license consultants have seen states issue one license per cultivation, processing, testing, and retail cannabis operations.
In contrast to Illinois, Arizona does not plan on issuing licenses for on-site consumption facilities.
Also, the Craft Grower and Infuser Licenses recently issued by Illinois will NOT be issued in Arizona. At this time, let us now further describe the two types of Arizona recreational cannabis licenses.
Type 1: Marijuana Establishment License
Quantum 9’s Arizona Cannabis Licensing Consultants deconstructed the definition of a Marijuana Establishment License. It is essentially a license for a vertically integrated entity. Below, I made a short video explaining the Marijuana Establishment License.
Additionally, the Smart and Safe Arizona act allows Marijuana Establishments, and agents on their behalf, to:
- Possess cannabis and cannabis products;
- Purchase and sell cannabis and cannabis products to and from a Marijuana Establishment;
- Transport cannabis and cannabis products to and from a Marijuana Establishment;
- Sell cannabis and cannabis products to consumers;
- Cultivate, produce, test, and process cannabis; and
- Manufacture cannabis products by chemical extraction or chemical synthesis.
For clarification, according to the Smart and Safe Arizona Act the following terms are defined as:
- Manufacture = “to compound, blend, extract, infuse, or otherwise make or prepare a marijuana product”
- Process = “to harvest, dry, cure, trim, or separate parts of the marijuana plant”
To emphasize, our Arizona Cannabis License Consultants want to make clear that the Marijuana Establishment License will give you permission to own three site locations for your company.
Accordingly, the three locations include:
- A single retail location where the licensee can sell, cultivate, and manufacture cannabis and cannabis products;
- One off-site cultivation location where the licensee can cultivate, process, and manufacture cannabis and cannabis products; and
- A single off-site manufacturing location where the Licensee can manufacture, package, and store cannabis and cannabis products.
Important to note, the Licensee cannot transfer or sell cannabis or cannabis products to consumers from neither the off-site cultivation nor manufacturing location.
Also, the act would allow two or more Marijuana Establishments to jointly use a single off-site location.
Next, let’s look at the second type of license, a Marijuana Testing Facility License.
Type 2: Marijuana Testing Facility License
Similar to above, our Arizona Cannabis License Consulting team also deconstructed the definition of a Marijuana Testing Facility License.
According to the Smart and Safe Arizona act, a Marijuana Testing Facility is any entity licensed by the department to analyze the potency of cannabis and test for any contaminants in cannabis. Additionally, the Department itself can operate as a Marijuana Testing Facility.
Besides the Marijuana Establishment and Marijuana Testing Facility License, Arizona will allow for Dual Licensees.
Dual Licensees
A Dual Licensee means an entity that holds both a medical marijuana dispensary and a marijuana establishment license. I’ll do my best to clarify this below.
Currently, there exists medical marijuana dispensary’s in Arizona. Upon the introduction of the adult-use cannabis program, existing medical dispensaries can apply as an “early applicant” for a Marijuana Establishment License.
A dual licensee can switch operations to a for-profit basis, which would immediately add value to the sole non-profit medical marijuana dispensary operation.
With a Dual License, a cannabis business can:
- Sell marijuana and marijuana products to consumers; and
- Dispense marijuana to patients and caregivers.
- Conduct any practice allowed for Marijuana Business Establishments (see above for description).
I know I’m throwing a lot of information at you. So that is why I encourage you to reach out to speak with one of our cannabis consultants in Arizona. We can help you navigate the complex cannabis application process for receiving a license.
Know the Licensing process
First and foremost, the department will issue no more than one marijuana establishment license for every ten pharmacies. In other words, the max number of Marijuana Establishment Licenses will not exceed 10% of the number of Pharmacies in Arizona.
Also, the department will issue licenses to “early applicants” first. The act defines “early applicants” as existing medical marijuana establishments or any applicant in a county with fewer than two existing medical marijuana establishments.
Once the early applicants have been issued licenses, the department will then randomly distribute licenses to qualified applicants.
Know the Licensing Timeline
Early applicants can apply for a Marijuana Establishment License beginning January 19, 2021 through March 9, 2021. The department will issue licenses to the early applicants within 60 days after receiving an application. The department will then issue an ADDITIONAL 26 Marijuana Establishment Licenses to entities in the Social Equity Ownership Program.
Importantly, the licenses will be valid for a period of two years. Afterward, the Applicants will have to renew their licenses and pay the renewal fees.
As for marijuana testing facility licenses, the department may:
- License an independent third-party laboratory as a marijuana testing facility
- Operate a marijuana testing facility themselves.
Now that you’re aware of the licensing process, you need to ensure that you win a license. In order to accomplish that, you will need a rockstar operating plan laid out in your application.
Our Arizona License Consultants Recommend Having a Rockstar Operating plan
In order to operate a Marijuana Establishment in Arizona, your operation will need to meet the following rules set out by the Department:
- Sufficient security of the facility;
- Proper safety of the operations; and
- Compliant tracking, testing, labeling and packaging of marijuana.
Our Arizona cannabis consulting team has put together some of the industry’s best operating plans that won licenses across the nation. Engage our cannabis consulting firm to learn how we can help you save time and win a cannabis license.
Be aware that localities can choose to allow or ban adult-use cannabis
Unfortunately, localities may enact additional rules regarding marijuana establishments.
For example, localities may:
- Limit the use of land to specified areas for marijuana establishments and marijuana testing facilities;
- Limit the number of licenses;
- Prohibit licenses/facilities;
- Regulate the time, place, and manner of marijuana operations;
- Restrict public signage regarding marijuana, marijuana establishments, and marijuana testing facilities; and
- Prohibit or restrict delivery within its jurisdiction.
In some instances, lobbying in a municipality can increase the chances that they allow an adult-use cannabis market. Navigating the politics can be tricky, but our cannabis consultants are experts in lobbying.
Engage an Arizona Cannabis License Consultant to win a license
If it is not clear by now, navigating cannabis industry regulations is extremely tedious. Also, you probably recognize that the Arizona adult-use market will bring tremendous opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
In order to increase your odds of winning a cannabis license in Arizona, we recommend engaging our Arizona Cannabis Licensing Consultants. Our license acquisition success rate currently sits at 90.12%.
