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The medical marijuana dispensary in Fountain Hills is taking its case for expanded hours of operation to the Town Council.
In February the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a compromise to the hours the dispensary operator is seeking.
Mayor Linda Kavanagh said she believes the town should continue to use all caution in how it allows the dispensary to operate.
“Marijuana dispensaries are new to Arizona and we know very little about problems that they may pose to the community,” Kavanagh said.
“The current dispensary is the first and only one in Fountain Hills and we took great pains to craft regulations that would err on the side of community safety.
Mark Steinmetz, operator for Nature’s AZ Medicines, has called the town’s current ordinance “far too restrictive, unfair and prejudiced.”
He also does not like the commission’s suggested compromise, since he wants Sunday operating hours for the dispensary.
The Fountain Hills Coalition also will be speaking out against the extended hours when the council meets Thursday evening.
The mayor is pushing for no expansion of hours.
“Mr. Steinmetz agreed to the current zoning restrictions and now, with about half a year’s operating history to rely upon, he wants to change the rules,” she said. “Marijuana usage has historically been associated with crime, sometimes violent, and driving under the influence.
“His request to operate past sunset could have a negative effect on the town. Prudence and safety dictate we should study the impact of the dispensary upon the community under its current rules, before expanding them.”
Steinmetz is seeking to have the dispensary open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Current zoning regulations allow the dispensary to operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the dispensary be allowed to operate between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Steinmetz said in an email to The Times that he wants Sunday hours.
“We asked for the same operating hours Mesa extends to its dispensaries,” Steinmetz said.
“The proposed P&Z hours would still make us come back once again at great expense to request Sunday hours. Every other community that allows MMJ grants Sunday access to patient medicine.
“Many patients and even a few non-patients have written and called The Town of Fountain Hills to express their support for longer hours.
“Currently, those residents who work traditional hours have to take time off from their jobs to access our natural herbal marijuana based medicines.
“While the P&Z expressed compassion for patients by giving patients a couple of evening hours and Saturdays, I wish they also recommended limited Sunday hours, as every other community in Arizona currently allows.”
The greatest opposition in Fountain Hills for the change in hours, and medical marijuana dispensaries in general, comes from the Fountain Hills Coalition, Youth Substance Abuse Prevention.
Carole Groux, the coalition’s executive director, said there is great concern about increasing the availability of marijuana.
“Having a marijuana dispensary in Fountain Hills increases the availability of marijuana locally,” Groux said.
“The longer the dispensary is open during ‘non-school’ hours (like 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays) the more likely access and availability will be for teens during those times.
“Fountain Hills teens do report getting marijuana for recreational purposes from card holders. Obviously we do not need to provide one more easy access point for youth with the rising marijuana usage rates among teens.
“Using the term medical in front of marijuana confuses the youths’ perception of risk of this drug. The lower the perceived risk and the higher the availability the more likely adolescent marijuana usage will be.
“This is a chance that every citizen has to directly impact the community. I encourage them to contact the mayor to let her know how they feel about this issue.”
The Town Council will hold a public hearing prior to considering the request for the zoning amendment to allow the expanded hours.
The council meets Thursday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall.
