Pubdate: Wed, 15 Aug 2012
Source: Coolidge Examiner (AZ)
Copyright: 2012 Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/rlfyWN01
Website: http://trivalleycentral.com/coolidge_examiner/front/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4242
Author: Sean Higgins

IT'S A WINNER

Coolidge Selected for Marijuana Dispensary

An investor group associated with Casa Grande oncologist Dr. Donald 
Hill recently hit the jackpot after being chosen in the state 
Department of Health's lottery to license medical marijuana dispensaries.

Of the 126 Community Health Analysis Areas (CHAA), the only ones 
selected for licensing were picked through a bingo-style lottery that 
chose only one applicant per zone.

Dr. Hill and his group of investors, according to Growth Management 
Director Alton Bruce, already have been approved for a conditional 
use permit by the City Council and have applied to open a dispensary 
in the Safeway Plaza.

Plenty of leg work remains before the facility can open, but Bruce 
said it could be around the start of the new year when they begin 
selling legal, medical pot.

In an interview with the Casa Grande Dispatch, Hill said that his 
investor groups also were selected for licensing in Sahuarita, 
northeast Tucson, Arivaca and Catalina.

For a dispensary to open, the state requires applicants to carry and 
prove they have a bankroll of at least $150,000 for startup costs.

According to Bruce, the state license will allow a dispensary or a 
dispensary/grow operation. Although Dr. Hill and associates applied 
for only a dispensary, it doesn't mean he can't come back to council 
with a revised proposal, which could include a different location and 
operation.

As of now it continues to evolve, and state officials such as 
Attorney General Tom Horne have expressed opinions against the 
opening of dispensaries.

He made a statement Aug. 6 explaining that federal law still 
considers such facilities illegal and therefore trumps the state's 
Medical Marijuana Act passed by voters.

Statewide, there were 433 dispensary applicants, 404 of which were in 
competitive areas.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom