Arizona medical-marijuana dispensaries are projected to see an extensive increase in sales with the passing of Proposition 207, the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Dispensaries across the state are preparing for a boom in revenue. Because of this, businesses are seeing an influx of new customers along with a heightened demand for product.
With the passing of Prop. 207, a state-wide recreational licensing system for dispensaries will be implemented. This will start with existing medical marijuana dispensaries that will choose to sell recreationally, according to a document from the Arizona Department of Health.
Some dispensaries, however, are still deciding whether to sell recreationally or not.
Heidi Ishmel, a “budtender” at Nirvana Center Dispensary located at 35th Ave. and McDowell Road, said that the prospect of acquiring a recreational license is “still up in the air.”
“It’s easier to be just strictly medical,” Ishmel said. “I predict it would be overwhelming for us if we got a recreational license. There would be an abundance of patients in line everyday which would require more employees.”
Some customers think that Prop. 207 “instantly” legalized marijuana, which is “far from the truth,” Ishmel said.
She said there were people trying to buy product without a medical card the day after the election.
“People think the legalization process will happen overnight, but it takes time. For any dispensary, recreational sales begin around March,” Ishmel said.
Ishmel said that although more dispensaries may appear in Phoenix, she’s not worried about losing any business because of competition.
The Nirvana Center Dispensary in Tempe, located at Hardy Drive and Broadway Road, is going through similar changes, but is more open to getting a recreational license.
Sales will “absolutely” increase with a recreational license, said a dispensary associate of Nirvana Center’s Tempe location.
The associate said that the dispensary has been “a lot busier” after 207 passed, even though recreational sales start in 2021.
“Since we’re one of the bigger, more corporate dispensaries, it would be easier for us to get a recreational license since they cost so much money,” she said.
The associate said that although they make “more than enough” money with just medical sales, they will be considering getting a recreational license once everything’s settled in March.
She said some customers fear the heightened demand for marijuana will cause product shortages in dispensaries. She added that after Election Day, people were buying product in bulk so they wouldn’t have to deal with the dispensary selling out.
“At the moment, we’re not going to run out of our product,” the associate said. “If we get a recreational license in March, I wouldn’t be surprised if we ran out of our supply.”
A customer of Nirvana Center in Phoenix said that he’s ready for an “easier” process of buying marijuana.
Justin Gonzales, downtown Phoenix resident and medical assistant at Banner Urgent Care located on Washington and Central Streets, said he’s “overjoyed” over the passing of Prop. 207.
Gonzales has a medical card for chronic neck pain caused by an ATV accident and said that medical cards are an “expensive” thing to have.
“They have an expiration date, so you’re not just paying for your med card once and that’s it. You have to pay again and again if you want to continue using it,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said he goes to Nirvana Center’s Phoenix location often. He said it’s the “best” option for downtown residents.
“There are one or two dispensaries that are closer to me, but I prefer to be a regular at Nirvana,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said that with Prop. 207 passed, he has the option to not renew his medical card and just buy recreationally.
Like when marijuana was legalized in Illinois, The associate said that many dispensaries were running out of product, and that she is expecting similar results for Arizona.
“I could see a similar thing happening here, but I’m excited for what’s to come,” she said.
Contact the reporter at wforeald@asu.edu.
