BENSON IN NO HURRY TO ISSUE MEDICAL POT RULES

BENSON - The City of Benson is taking a wait and see approach, as the
state continues to sort out guidelines and code regulations for the
medical marijuana measure passed by Arizona voters in November.

The city is in no hurry because a lot of details have to be sorted out
by the Arizona Department of Health Services before any prescriptions
can be passed out to legally use the drug.

Proposition 203 passed with 841,346 voting yes, and 837,008 voting
against it.

State officials said a lengthy process to get the program under way
will begin, and applications won't be accepted until at least mid-April.

Only a qualifying patient, who is registered with the agency, will be
able to legally obtain an allowable amount of marijuana from a
nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary and possess and use the
marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms associated with a
debilitating medical condition.

The agency started gathering public comments in November to assist
drafting the rules. The comment period ended earlier this month, and a
revised draft of those rules will be out sometime in
mid-February.

An initial report is expected this month.