PEORIA OKS 2 APPLICANTS FOR MEDICAL-POT DISPENSARIES

Peoria's Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved permit
requests for two medical-marijuana dispensaries, but such facilities
are in limbo as the state seeks clarity on whether the voter-approved
ballot measure conflicts with federal drug laws.

As Arizona waits for an answer on opening medical-pot facilities, the
state health department has issued thousands of patient cards for
marijuana use. More than 98 percent of 6,669 applicants were approved
as of Wednesday. In Peoria, 169 residents applied for the card.

If requested, cardholders will be able to grow their own marijuana for
personal use, at least until dispensaries open. The law allows
cardholders to grow their own if a dispensary is not located within 25
miles of their home.

Peoria requires patients or caregivers to grow medical marijuana in an
enclosed, locked facility, such as a room inside a home.

Arizona voters in November approved medical-pot use for cancer
patients and those with other debilitating illnesses to get a
medical-marijuana card with doctor approval.

The state was scheduled to accept applications for dispensaries and
growing facilities in June. Then a letter raised concerns. The U.S.
Attorney for Arizona warned the state Health Director of prosecution
of prospective pot growers and sellers under federal drug-trafficking
laws. The Arizona Attorney General in May filed a lawsuit in federal
court to clarify whether Arizona would run afoul of the federal government.

With no response yet, those interested in opening facilities are
moving forward. In Peoria, one applicant hopes to open at the
southeast corner of Loop 101 and Peoria Avenue, while another wants to
open at the northwest corner of Lake Pleasant and Beardsley roads.

Arizona Natural Selections Patient Center seeks a dispensary near Loop
101, in an area zoned commercial and geared toward retail shops and
offices. The applicant estimated the dispensary would see as many as
30 patients a day at the site, which would be open from 8 a.m. to 9
p.m. seven days a week.

Arizona Grown Healthcare proposes the northern Peoria location, which
is in a commercially zoned area. Hours of operation would be weekdays
from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and closed Sundays.

Just one resident lodged a complaint; and that was a concern against
dispensaries in general.

The Peoria planning commission approved both special-permit requests.
The approval is only the first hurdle crossed by the applicants to
show that the site is in compliance with the city's land-use laws,
Peoria planner Ed Boik noted.

The Arizona Department of Health Services eventually should further
scrutinize the applicants to determine if either passes muster to open
up a dispensary in the city. Only one of those two applicants will be
able to run a dispensary because both fall in an area where only one
dispensary would be allowed by the state.

Statewide, about 126 dispensaries are expected to be certified. Based
on state rules for placement, Peoria anticipates at least one license
to be issued initially and up to three total.

With the request for federal input, it is unclear when state health
officials would make such a decision on applicants.