Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Lake Havasu City officials said the city's role in handling the issue of medical marijuana will be small.
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission is set to discuss locations for medical marijuana dispensaries at 9 a.m. Wednesday in city council chambers in the police facility.
Arizona voters approved Proposition 203 in November by a 50.13 percent to 49.87 percent margin. Prop. 203 allows for the use, sale and growing of medical marijuana. The act "specifically grants cities and counties the authority to enact reasonable zoning regulations that limit the use of land for registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries to specified areas," according to city documents.
"The legislation that was passed prohibits the city from controlling the sale of medical marijuana with the exception of zoning," said City Manager Charlie Cassens. "What we can do is control where the dispensaries and grow operations are and that's the process that is going on right now and that's what the Planning and Zoning Commission will be discussing."
Assistant City Attorney Kelly Garry said she's unsure how various cities and counties will interpret "reasonable zoning regulations" but she added that Lake Havasu City has a sound plan.
"It's hard to say what it means exactly," Garry said. "We just don't have any experience with medical marijuana dispensaries in this state so we will have to see. ... I believe what the city has drafted is extremely reasonable, and I don't believe it will be a problem at all."
Mohave County planning and zoning officials also are expected to address the issue Jan. 12. Phoenix officials agreed earlier this week that dispensaries would only be allowed in strip malls and commercial centers. Other regulations also included locations that must be at least 250 feet from residential areas, 1,320 feet from schools, 500 feet from churches, and at least one mile apart, according to the associated press. State officials have reported previously that about 125 dispensaries will open around the state by mid-2011.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Today's News-Herald (Lake Havasu City, AZ)
Contact: editor@havasunews.com
Copyright: 2011 Today's News-Herald
Website: Today's News-Herald
Details: MapInc
Author: Nathan Bruttell
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission is set to discuss locations for medical marijuana dispensaries at 9 a.m. Wednesday in city council chambers in the police facility.
Arizona voters approved Proposition 203 in November by a 50.13 percent to 49.87 percent margin. Prop. 203 allows for the use, sale and growing of medical marijuana. The act "specifically grants cities and counties the authority to enact reasonable zoning regulations that limit the use of land for registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries to specified areas," according to city documents.
"The legislation that was passed prohibits the city from controlling the sale of medical marijuana with the exception of zoning," said City Manager Charlie Cassens. "What we can do is control where the dispensaries and grow operations are and that's the process that is going on right now and that's what the Planning and Zoning Commission will be discussing."
Assistant City Attorney Kelly Garry said she's unsure how various cities and counties will interpret "reasonable zoning regulations" but she added that Lake Havasu City has a sound plan.
"It's hard to say what it means exactly," Garry said. "We just don't have any experience with medical marijuana dispensaries in this state so we will have to see. ... I believe what the city has drafted is extremely reasonable, and I don't believe it will be a problem at all."
Mohave County planning and zoning officials also are expected to address the issue Jan. 12. Phoenix officials agreed earlier this week that dispensaries would only be allowed in strip malls and commercial centers. Other regulations also included locations that must be at least 250 feet from residential areas, 1,320 feet from schools, 500 feet from churches, and at least one mile apart, according to the associated press. State officials have reported previously that about 125 dispensaries will open around the state by mid-2011.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Today's News-Herald (Lake Havasu City, AZ)
Contact: editor@havasunews.com
Copyright: 2011 Today's News-Herald
Website: Today's News-Herald
Details: MapInc
Author: Nathan Bruttell
