Bill > SB1057

This bill establishes a Rural Opportunity Initiative to create economic opportunities for small, rural communities in Arizona's marijuana industry. The bill requires the Arizona Department of Health Services to adopt rules by July 1, 2026, allowing marijuana establishments to obtain licenses specifically for unserved rural communities (defined as areas with fewer than 50,000 people and at least 25 miles from existing marijuana retail sites). Qualified applicants can receive both a marijuana establishment license and a medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate for a single retail location, with the option to have one off-site cultivation facility. These businesses will have flexible operating requirements, including being able to operate for as little as 24 hours per week and relocate only to another unserved rural community. Communities can opt out of the initiative by submitting a form to the department, and counties can opt out on behalf of census-designated areas. The department will issue up to 18 licenses under this initiative, with the first qualified applicant for each unserved rural community receiving the license within 60 days of application. The bill aims to expand marijuana business opportunities in smaller, underserved areas while providing local communities with the ability to control their participation.

Business and Industry, Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/81786