Permit pending for Tucson's first medical marijuana dispensary
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Posted 10:49 PM 9/14/2012 : First Tucson pot permit to be issued
TUCSON - The City of Tucson may soon have its first medical marijuana dispensary.
A storefront in the Gaslight Plaza at Broadway and Kolb has been approved for remodeling for the purpose of becoming a dispensary.
Dispensaries are regulated by the state health department, with the city limited to establishing zoning regulations. The state still must sign off on the project.
Marla Wallace who owns a personal fitness studio in the plaza is apprehensive of a dispensary opening up shop next door.
"What kind of clientele is going to be visiting his store?" Wallace told News 4 Tucson.
She is especially concerned with how her customers will feel about it. But that isn't the case for everyone in the surrounding area.
Mindie Marsh lives in a nearby neighborhood but she's not worried about a legal pot shop opening up in a plaza where she frequently takes her kids.
"It's the best thing...is that they are going through the proper legal processes to get the permits, sell the products legally and not be underground or criminal," Marsh said.
However, Council Member Paul Cunningham says this location has some unresolved issues.
"It is next to an outpatient substance care facility and 1007 feet from a pre-school. Depending on where you measure from, that distance can be seen as 998 feet. It is possible this discussion is not over," Cunningham told News 4 Tucson.
As for Wallace, she is still optimistic about the future of the plaza.
"I hope we can work together, but that can remain to be seen," Wallace said.
Cunningham expects more oversight discussion to take place in the next two weeks, insisting that this location isn't quite set in stone.
