Arizona’s medical marijuana law allows cities to set dispensary and cultivation facility location restrictions
By Corina Vanek | Phoenix Business Journal
Nearly 10 years after Arizona voters legalized marijuana for medical use, dispensary owners and attorneys who work with the industry cite an unlikely hindrance in opening up shop: real estate.
“Real estate is hands down the most cumbersome and challenging part of the entire industry,” said Sara Gullickson, CEO of Item 9 Labs, a publicly traded cannabis company dealing with marijuana cultivation, production, dispensaries and transportation. “Real estate is the number one ingredient.”
Gullickson has eight dispensary licenses and founded Dispensary Permits, a consulting company for weed-oriented businesses going through the licensing and opening process. She sold the consulting business to Item 9 Labs in December when she took over as CEO.
