CITY TO DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

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.