Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Department of Health Services Director Will Humble is looking to Arizona residents to help him develop rules pertaining to medical marijuana card holders, care givers and dispensary owners.
He just released a YouTube video online explaining his desire to keep the rule-making process of legalizing medical marijuana “100 percent transparent.”
Humble said it is important to involve the public in this process “so we have a responsible way of implementing this act as we move forward.”
Yavapai County voters turned down Proposition 203 in the General Election earlier this month, but statewide votes overruled local votes and the process is now beginning to determine how the statewide law will keep people from abusing marijuana.
“Between now and April is the really heaving lifting that we’ll be expecting to form a partnership with you so that we can develop a set of criteria that moves this program forward in a responsible way,” Humble said. “In April of 2011, we expect to be executing the program across the state.”
Proposition 203, cited as the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, is a citizen initiative that will enable a "qualifying patient" registered with ADHS to legally obtain an "allowable amount of usable marijuana" from a "nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary" and possess and use the marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms associated with a "debilitating medical condition."
Once the election is certified Nov. 29, the Department will adopt, through an exempt rulemaking process, and enforce a regulatory system for the distribution of marijuana for medical use.
“This system must include a method for approving, renewing, and revoking the registration of qualifying patients, designated caregivers, nonprofit dispensaries, and dispensary agents,” Humble said.
DHS officials have created the following timeline in developing the rules governing the regulatory system:
Dec. 17 – ADHS will post an initial informal draft of rules based on templates from other states with similar medical marijuana allowances.
Dec. 17 through Jan. 7 - ADHS will accept informal (electronic) public comment on the initial informal draft rules.
Jan. 31 - ADHS administrators will post official draft rules for public comment.
Jan. 31 through Feb.18 - ADHS officials will accept public comment on a revised draft of the rules.
Feb. 15 through Feb. 17 - ADHS will host three public meetings about the draft rules. The first will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 250 N. 17th Ave. in Phoenix. The second is scheduled at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 400 W. Congress, Room 222, in Tucson. And the final meeting is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at 250 N. 17th Ave. in Phoenix.
March 28 - ADHS will publish the final rules to be used to implement the Act.
April - ADHS employees will start accepting applications for registry identification cards and dispensary certificates.
The passage of Proposition 203 is not final until the statewide canvas Nov. 29.
Humble is asking the public to “Stay tuned and stay involved” throughout the implementation process.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: prescottenews.com
Author: Lauren Millette
Copyright: 2010 eNewsAZ
Contact: Prescott News | eNews AZ | Online
Website: Public Input Wanted on New Marijuana Rules - Prescott eNews
He just released a YouTube video online explaining his desire to keep the rule-making process of legalizing medical marijuana “100 percent transparent.”
Humble said it is important to involve the public in this process “so we have a responsible way of implementing this act as we move forward.”
Yavapai County voters turned down Proposition 203 in the General Election earlier this month, but statewide votes overruled local votes and the process is now beginning to determine how the statewide law will keep people from abusing marijuana.
“Between now and April is the really heaving lifting that we’ll be expecting to form a partnership with you so that we can develop a set of criteria that moves this program forward in a responsible way,” Humble said. “In April of 2011, we expect to be executing the program across the state.”
Proposition 203, cited as the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, is a citizen initiative that will enable a "qualifying patient" registered with ADHS to legally obtain an "allowable amount of usable marijuana" from a "nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary" and possess and use the marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms associated with a "debilitating medical condition."
Once the election is certified Nov. 29, the Department will adopt, through an exempt rulemaking process, and enforce a regulatory system for the distribution of marijuana for medical use.
“This system must include a method for approving, renewing, and revoking the registration of qualifying patients, designated caregivers, nonprofit dispensaries, and dispensary agents,” Humble said.
DHS officials have created the following timeline in developing the rules governing the regulatory system:
Dec. 17 – ADHS will post an initial informal draft of rules based on templates from other states with similar medical marijuana allowances.
Dec. 17 through Jan. 7 - ADHS will accept informal (electronic) public comment on the initial informal draft rules.
Jan. 31 - ADHS administrators will post official draft rules for public comment.
Jan. 31 through Feb.18 - ADHS officials will accept public comment on a revised draft of the rules.
Feb. 15 through Feb. 17 - ADHS will host three public meetings about the draft rules. The first will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 250 N. 17th Ave. in Phoenix. The second is scheduled at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 400 W. Congress, Room 222, in Tucson. And the final meeting is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at 250 N. 17th Ave. in Phoenix.
March 28 - ADHS will publish the final rules to be used to implement the Act.
April - ADHS employees will start accepting applications for registry identification cards and dispensary certificates.
The passage of Proposition 203 is not final until the statewide canvas Nov. 29.
Humble is asking the public to “Stay tuned and stay involved” throughout the implementation process.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: prescottenews.com
Author: Lauren Millette
Copyright: 2010 eNewsAZ
Contact: Prescott News | eNews AZ | Online
Website: Public Input Wanted on New Marijuana Rules - Prescott eNews
