TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The clock is ticking for recreational marijuana dispensaries to open their doors in Arizona. The state says these dispensaries have until October next year to get started, but Tucson and Pima County are still trying to decide where they can be located.
“There were a few places where they could go but I would have to say very few locations as to where they could go,” said Pima County’s Planning Official Chris Poirier.
Poirier is working to make unincorporated areas more attractive for the marijuana industry.
“In Pima County, we have no dispensaries today, the city has a pretty robust marijuana related industry,” Poirier said.
At Poirier’s proposal, the County’s Planning Commission agreed to relax regulations around where recreational dispensaries can be located, mirroring Tucson’s rules. The commission wants to allow dispensaries in industrial zones and also commercial areas like shopping centers, malls, or downtown. They also shortened required distances between new dispensaries and schools, libraries and parks.
“The industry has done a really good job of making sure that criminal element isn’t happening around the land uses like we thought they could when we first introduced the rules back in 2010,” Poirier said. “So essentially we’re taking a fresh look at our rules.”
The commission’s proposed change in regulations will go before the Board of Supervisors in July. But there’s one caveat that could push away potential business:…
