No Limits Set On How Much Authorized Growers Can Grow.

greenbuddha · February 16, 2011

No Size Limits on Pot CentersPosted by CN Staff on February 16, 2011 at 06:44:03 PT

By Joe Ferguson, Sun Staff Reporter

Arizona -- Imagine a medical marijuana dispensary the size of a small grocery store. It is now a possibility, given the action by the Flagstaff City Council Tuesday night. The council removed a proposed zoning restriction on dispensaries inside the city limits that had capped the size at 3,000 square feet.

With the size of dispensaries unlimited, it is expected that most of the marijuana will be grown on site, rather than at a remote location.

Councilmember Art Babbott said he agreed with a recommendation by the Flagstaff Police Department to have the retail side of a dispensary co-locate with growing operations.

Police officials believe co-location will make the local medical marijuana industry safer by cutting down on the number of locations and removing the need for large deliveries to replenish stock at dispensaries.

David Grandon, a former local art gallery owner, said earlier this week he wanted the city to increase the maximum size for dispensaries to accommodate other services, such as a chiropractor, a massage therapist and other therapeutic services

Future dispensaries will be allowed along major commercial corridors such as Milton Road, Route 66 and Fourth Street. At least two are expected to open inside the city limits later this year.

The council did eliminate a zoning option allowing dispensaries to open in smaller commercially areas that are often a mix of residential and businesses. Examples of this type of zoning include portions of Southside along Mike's Pike and Beaver Street.

The defeated recommendation had been designed to allow a dispensary to open near Flagstaff Medical Center.

The council also did not support an attempt by Mayor Sara Presler to require home caregivers to register with the city when delivering medical pot to their housebound patients.

Presler said she wanted the registration for legal reasons, noting all attorneys have to register with the city.

The city is required to establish zoning rules before the state's medical marijuana law goes into effect later this year.

Source: Arizona Daily Sun (AZ)

Author: Joe Ferguson, Sun Staff Reporter

Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Copyright: 2011 Arizona Daily Sun

Website: http://www.azdailysun.com/

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