E.V. CITIES STARTING TO DRAFT RULES REGULATING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

With the use of medical marijuana approved by Arizona voters, local
municipalities are in the process of crafting ordinances regulating
its dispensation.

Many cities are in the discussion stage, planning to pass legislation
by the time the marijuana law takes effect in April. The League of
Arizona Cities and Towns is working with municipalities to outline a
"model zoning ordinance," and Tempe is one of them.

"We've had a couple of meetings," said Lisa Collins, Tempe community
development deputy director. "Obviously, you have to have zoning
classifications that are appropriate for this kind of use. We don't
have anything established yet, but time is of the essence."

About 120 medical marijuana dispensaries will be placed around the
state, located proportionate to population and regulated by the state
Department of Health Services.

Gilbert has crafted a fact sheet on medical marijuana zoning,
indicating that "dispensary and cultivation sites" will be a new
land-use classification. The town could have as many as five
dispensaries, with a separation requirement of at least 1,000 feet
from a school, church, park or day-care center.

The law states that approved users who live more than 25 miles from a
dispensary would be allowed to grow their own marijuana - which
Gilbert wants to avoid.

"Zoning that allows for at least one dispensary for (all) approved
users would make it easier for the Town to comply with the new
proposition, while also complying with our responsibility of
prohibiting non-approved uses, and upholding the safety of our entire
community," the fact sheet reads.

Gilbert's planning commission is expected to make a recommendation to
the Town Council in December, with a vote scheduled for January.

Mesa is taking a similar approach. City officials expect as many as 10
dispensaries, with separation requirements of 500 feet from schools
and 1,200 feet from churches or parks.

The City Council is expected to formally adopt the regulations in
January.

Chandler has taken a wait-and-see approach. City planning
administrator Jeff Kurtz said he expects an ordinance passed before
the law takes effect, but he said that Chandler officials are, for
now, observing.

"At this point, we're checking out what other cities and jurisdictions
are doing, so we can learn about what the issues might be," Kurtz
said. "We don't have anything planned at this point, but the city
staff has been talking about it. We'll look around and see what
direction we want to go."