In the case of the medical marijuana fee, what would have happened in that particular case is that the department would have needed to get the fee set very quickly to respond to an increasing demand that there be a safe source for that particular product. It was that situation that dictated that they respond or have a mechanism to respond very quickly, and contract was the easiest way in which to do so at the time.
On May 27th, 2008. See this statement in context.