The application for a Scottsdale dispensary was approved by the city council in December, but the city is facing a lawsuit from Green Sky Patient Center. The lawsuit claims the business was too close to residential properties. The dispensary was in violation of the City Code, and the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) has since decided to issue a permanent injunction. The applicant has filed for a temporary restraining order and will likely need to file an appeal.
The city has not given the dispensary a deadline to file a lawsuit. However, the city has not received any formal notice from the preschool operator and the dispensary has not received a formal offer to relocate. Although the plans have been approved by the Arizona State Medical Marijuana Commission, a spokesperson for Sunday Goods says the plan still needs to be reviewed by the City Council. The state currently has more than 76,000 medical marijuana cardholders. The majority of those cardholders are under the age of 30.
While the city is aware of the lawsuits, it does not allow marijuana businesses to open bank accounts. The business must run on cash only. This can lead to a problem if tax authorities want to deduct business expenses related to the business. The state has not published a list of licensed dispensaries because it violates a voter-approved law that prohibits public disclosure. Because some dispensaries have posed as legitimate operators, the state does not publish its list of dispensaries.
A zoning restriction prevents a dispensary from opening within 1,500 feet of a school, preschool, place of worship, or public park. The Scottsdale City Council also requires that any licenses for medical marijuana establishments conform to local municipal codes. The zoning regulations for the city’s upcoming marijuana dispensary were based on the current population of qualifying medical marijuana users. Despite the strict zoning rules, the City Council approved the dispensary’s application on Nov. 12.
As of November 2018, Arizona has legalized medical marijuana in the city. Recreational weed should be available in various locations in the state by November 2020. A few medical marijuana dispensaries are currently operating in Scottsdale. They are most often open from 8AM to 7PM but some have extended their hours to sell weed to patients. In addition, there are two cannabis dispensaries in the area, and one of them offers delivery. The process of opening a marijuana dispensary in the Phoenix area can be time-consuming.
It’s important for a dispensary to remain in a neighborhood to avoid conflicts with residents. Despite the potential negative effects of marijuana use, some dispensaries have been operated responsibly for years. There’s no evidence that the dispensaries have caused problems in Scottsdale’s neighborhoods, though. The state’s voter-approved law only prohibits certain kinds of cannabis businesses from operating in any public place. A public dispensary in Scottsdale is a great addition to the neighborhood.