CHANDLER TO WORK ON ZONING FOR MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

The Chandler City Council took a first step Monday night to write
restrictive zoning regulations for medical marijuana
dispensaries.

The Council voted unanimously to start work on zoning code amendments
that limit the locations of dispensaries beyond those in a new state
law.

Exactly what those restrictions will be is uncertain, but the council
will discuss them at a Dec. 16 subcommittee meeting, bring them to
public hearings in January and adopt them in February.

Several council members said the potential for marijuana theft and the
anticipated cultivation of medical marijuana in city limits are
reasons Chandler should adopt zoning restrictions.

Municipalities across the state have been scrambling to write
ordinances for medical-marijuana dispensaries since Proposition 203
was officially approved by voters last month.

Planning Director Jeff Kurtz said cities can limit medical marijuana
dispensaries to specific zoning districts, require special use permits
and set maximum square footage for the operations. If Chandler doesn't
change its zoning code, the dispensaries would be allowed in most
areas that permit retail commerce, he said.

Mayor Boyd Dunn, a member of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns
executive committee, said the state law is so vague that the regional
group drafted a model ordinance for municipalities. Arizona Department
of Health Services is expected to start reviewing applications from
people who want to operate a dispensary or use medical marijuana by
April. Under state law, no more than 124 dispensaries can open across
Arizona. At least one has to open in each county.

According to league records, no Valley city has yet adopted zoning
changes that regulate medical marijuana dispensaries but Tempe and
Scottsdale have held public discussions of proposed restrictions and
Peoria has a draft ordinance set for a vote next month. Four cities
outside of Maricopa County, including Tucson, have adopted medical
marijuana zoning laws.