The Arizona Medical Marijuana Program turned five years old this month.
As of last week, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program has issued medical marijuana cards to 94,461 qualifying patients. There are 2,544 dispensary agents, and 834 designated caregivers licensed.
According to Dr. Cara M. Christ, Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are 99 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, with 92 currently open and operating. Approximately 97 percent of Arizonans are now residing within 25 miles of an operating medical marijuana dispensary. There are 75 cultivation sites located outside of the operating dispensaries. Some of those dispensaries and cultivation sites include kitchens approved to prepare edible food products.
The Arizona Department of Health Services plans on accepting new applications for medical marijuana dispensaries . The exact number is not known at this time, according to Christ, but there will likely be about 30 licenses available.