Myer, of Phoenix, already owns a medical-marijuana dispensary in Glendale, but with the state officials poised to award a second round of licenses since medical marijuana became legal in 2010, he hired a surveyor to do measurements once he narrowed in on a site. He found one property that could work and talked to the owner about leasing or buying the building if he gets a license.

“It’s nothing more than a lottery ticket. It’s a $5,000 lottery ticket, basically,” Myer said.

The Arizona Department of Health Services, which oversees the medical-marijuana program, has received more than 750 applications for the 31 licenses that will be awarded in October.

Proposition 205, which would legalize marijuana for recreational use, would also give medical-marijuana dispensaries in good standing, the first shot at the recreational licenses.

“It’s an automatic free pass,” said Jerry Chesler, an attorney who said that he has acted as a consultant for 16 medical-marijuana applications, potential for medical-marijuana licensees, to be the first to obtain recreational licenses. “You’re in the front of the line. It’s super valuable as a medical license and then they get you in on what could be a very lucrative recreational business, as well.”

State health officials will choose the winners based on the address — located within certain community health analysis areas — that will serve the most patients.

In Phoenix, there are fewer options because of the regulations adopted by the City Council that require dispensaries to be farther from schools, places of worship, residences, child or adult-care facilities, homeless shelters and other places. Phoenix officials have received 225 requests from June through July.

By Premji