Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission has endorsed a revised ordinance that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in shopping centers, the hospital area and other business zones in the city.
The commission’s decision Thursday night sends the matter to an uncertain future before the City Council, which has final say on ordinances and zoning changes.
Marijuana growing operations and those blending marijuana into products would still be zoned for the industrial areas, mainly around the Thornton Road corridor and near Jimmie Kerr Boulevard and Interstate 10.
The initial proposal presented to the commission in December called for all marijuana operations to be in industrial areas. Suggestions came from the commission that the areas be widened, allowing for operations in other parts of the city, leading to the revised proposal presented Thursday night.
That proposal, with Chairwoman Tina Cramp absent, was accepted unanimously, including a request from a law firm representing marijuana interests that the area immediately around Casa Grande Regional Medical Center be added to locations that would allow for dispensaries.
The change to allow marijuana dispensaries in areas other than industrial includes the zones of B1 neighborhood business, B2 general business, B3 central business and B4 community service. That covers what is generally Casa Grande’s business areas. A conditional use permit would be required.
The proposal has requirements that marijuana operations must be 500 feet away from other such uses, substance abuse diagnostic and treatment facilities or other drug or alcohol rehabilitation facilities, a child care center, public library or public park, church or religious institutions and any airport. They must be at least 1,000 feet from a public or private school.
The hospital amendment urged by the marijuana interests’ law firm reads, “A medical marijuana dispensary is principally permitted on any property that allows medical offices, clinic or other medical facilities provided said property is within 1,000 feet of a hospital and also meets the distance requirements (listed above).”
Principally permitted basically means that it is a legal area for an operation and does not require a conditional use permit.
Restrictions in the proposed ordinance include hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., be located in a permanent building designed only for one user and may not be in a trailer, cargo container or other vehicle, not have drive-thru service, not provide delivery of medical marijuana to patients, no use of marijuana on the premises, no outdoor seating and must have a Casa Grande business license for medical marijuana.
It is not yet known if Casa Grande will even be chosen by the state for medical marijuana operations, but the city wants to have regulations in place if that should happen.
The medical marijuana initiative passed by state voters in November says that the Arizona Department of Health Services may not issue more than one nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate for every 10 pharmacy permits issued by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. Right now, that means there will be 124 certificates issued around the state, with a minimum of one dispensary per county. There is no directive listing specific cities, even if a dispensary wished to locate in a certain area.
The ADHS is still putting together its final regulations and no areas for marijuana operations have been selected.
Medical marijuana users are defined in the initiative as those who are registered with the ADHS (or a registered designated caregiver on behalf of the qualifying patient), A registered patient may obtain up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a 14-day period from a registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary.
However, if the patient’s home is located more than 25 miles from the nearest dispensary, the patient or caregiver may cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants in an enclosed, locked facility.
The proposed Casa Grande ordinance lists that situation, should it happen, as a permitted accessory use in residential districts.
• Thanks to Guitarman313 for submitting this article
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: trivalleycentral.com
Author: HAROLD KITCHING
Copyright: 2011 Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.
Contact: TriValley Central > Contact Us
Website: CG panel endorses medical marijuana sales in business zones
The commission’s decision Thursday night sends the matter to an uncertain future before the City Council, which has final say on ordinances and zoning changes.
Marijuana growing operations and those blending marijuana into products would still be zoned for the industrial areas, mainly around the Thornton Road corridor and near Jimmie Kerr Boulevard and Interstate 10.
The initial proposal presented to the commission in December called for all marijuana operations to be in industrial areas. Suggestions came from the commission that the areas be widened, allowing for operations in other parts of the city, leading to the revised proposal presented Thursday night.
That proposal, with Chairwoman Tina Cramp absent, was accepted unanimously, including a request from a law firm representing marijuana interests that the area immediately around Casa Grande Regional Medical Center be added to locations that would allow for dispensaries.
The change to allow marijuana dispensaries in areas other than industrial includes the zones of B1 neighborhood business, B2 general business, B3 central business and B4 community service. That covers what is generally Casa Grande’s business areas. A conditional use permit would be required.
The proposal has requirements that marijuana operations must be 500 feet away from other such uses, substance abuse diagnostic and treatment facilities or other drug or alcohol rehabilitation facilities, a child care center, public library or public park, church or religious institutions and any airport. They must be at least 1,000 feet from a public or private school.
The hospital amendment urged by the marijuana interests’ law firm reads, “A medical marijuana dispensary is principally permitted on any property that allows medical offices, clinic or other medical facilities provided said property is within 1,000 feet of a hospital and also meets the distance requirements (listed above).”
Principally permitted basically means that it is a legal area for an operation and does not require a conditional use permit.
Restrictions in the proposed ordinance include hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., be located in a permanent building designed only for one user and may not be in a trailer, cargo container or other vehicle, not have drive-thru service, not provide delivery of medical marijuana to patients, no use of marijuana on the premises, no outdoor seating and must have a Casa Grande business license for medical marijuana.
It is not yet known if Casa Grande will even be chosen by the state for medical marijuana operations, but the city wants to have regulations in place if that should happen.
The medical marijuana initiative passed by state voters in November says that the Arizona Department of Health Services may not issue more than one nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration certificate for every 10 pharmacy permits issued by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. Right now, that means there will be 124 certificates issued around the state, with a minimum of one dispensary per county. There is no directive listing specific cities, even if a dispensary wished to locate in a certain area.
The ADHS is still putting together its final regulations and no areas for marijuana operations have been selected.
Medical marijuana users are defined in the initiative as those who are registered with the ADHS (or a registered designated caregiver on behalf of the qualifying patient), A registered patient may obtain up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a 14-day period from a registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary.
However, if the patient’s home is located more than 25 miles from the nearest dispensary, the patient or caregiver may cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants in an enclosed, locked facility.
The proposed Casa Grande ordinance lists that situation, should it happen, as a permitted accessory use in residential districts.
• Thanks to Guitarman313 for submitting this article
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: trivalleycentral.com
Author: HAROLD KITCHING
Copyright: 2011 Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.
Contact: TriValley Central > Contact Us
Website: CG panel endorses medical marijuana sales in business zones
