TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Arizona Department of Health Services is issuing the first licenses for recreational marijuana sales in the state Friday.
The AZDHS announced the approval of 86 applications for recreational marijuana licenses in the state. Most are in Maricopa County, but three are in Tucson, one in Marana and one in Bisbee. The department only began accepting applications Tuesday.
Proposition 207, which voters approved in the November 2020 election, allowed for pre-existing medical marijuana dispensaries to receive priority in recreational marijuana licenses.
The approved dispensaries are:
- NatureMed (Arizona Golden Leaf Wellness) - Marana
- Nature Med says they'll begin selling recreational marijuana on Feb. 25, and still require a permit from the town of Marana.
- Desert Bloom (Medmar Tanque Verde, Llc) - Tucson
- Desert Bloom is gearing up for recreational sales, but isn't quite ready just yet. They say they should begin sometime next week (Jan. 25).
- Harvest HOC (Patient Care Center 301, Inc.) - Tucson
- Harvest is currently selling recreational marijuana.
- Bloom Dispensary - Tucson
- Bloom tells KGUN 9 they're not quite ready to begin recreational sales, but will begin next week (Jan. 25) or the week after (Feb. 1).
- Bloom tells KGUN 9 they're not quite ready to begin recreational sales, but will begin next week (Jan. 25) or the week after (Feb. 1).
- Natural Relief Clinic, Inc. - Bisbee
- Natural Relief Clinic did not immediately return a request for comment, but a phone message says they're not currently selling recreational marijuana.
An AZDHS spokesperson says the approval of their new licenses allows the dispensaries to begin selling recreational marijuana as soon as they're able.
The AZHDS is still reviewing six recently received applications in Arizona.
