Nine businesses are scouting locations in Cottonwood to launch medical marijuana dispensaries, including one managed by the son of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Zoning for one dispensary proposing to both cultivate and distribute medical marijuana at the site was also approved, according to the city of Cottonwood long-range planner Charles Scully.
One location in the 200 block of South Candy Lane was not approved, Scully reported.
The letters from planning and zoning do not verify the potential dispensaries are in compliance with the city’s development or zoning regulations, Scully said.
Most of the potential dispensaries asked for zoning verification of locations on Main Street. Those include:
- 101 S. Main St.
- 703 S. Main St.
- 627 N. Main St.
- 1035 N. Main St.
- 1060 N. Main St.
Two different dispensaries expressed an interest in the 1060 N. Main St. location, city records state.
Potential Medical Marijuana
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| Of the 11 zoning confirmations mailed out by the city of Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Department in May, three went to real estate agents who did not reveal the name of the dispensaries they represented. Two inquiries were made by attorneys, including one by a Scottsdale lawyer, Casey Was, who has the same last name as a director of the dispensary he represents. The rest were sent directly to the following potential dispensaries: A limited liability company managed by Mark W. Halie of Glendale. An LLC managed by David Lund, Jerome Riddle, David Johnson and Lisa Moran Aulger, all of Phoenix. A corporation managed by Brian O’Connor of Scottsdale and Dr. Jeffrey M. Taffet, an ear, nose and throat specialist with offices in Goodyear and Phoenix. O’Connor is son of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. A corporation managed by William G. Was III of Scottsdale. There was no corporate record for Medicinal Development. |
Possible dispensary locations on State Route 89A and Sixth and 15th streets were also approved for zoning as follows:
- 777 E. SR 89A
- 411 and 417 S. Sixth St.
- 418 N. 15th St.
Addresses on Cove Parkway were verified for two others:
- 708 Cove Pkwy.
- 799 Cove Pkwy.
Al dispensaries, managed by Brian O’Connor of Scottsdale and Dr. Jeffrey M. Taffet, an ear, nose and throat specialist with offices in Goodyear and Phoenix, asked for zoning verification on the 777 E. SR 89A location. O’Connor is son of Sandra Day O’Connor.
Brian O’Connor is also an owner of a car wash company, which has two locations in Sedona.
None of the potential dispensaries are approved to operate within the city and won’t be for the foreseeable future thanks to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
“The attorney general filed for declaratory judgment in federal court about the legality of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and our rules,” Arizona Department of Health Services announced on its official website.
The Arizona Department of Health Services was to begin reviewing applications June 1, but the lawsuit, which asks a federal court to determine whether state workers are exposed to criminal prosecution under the law, means no dispensary applications will be accepted in June.
“Because of the court filing and legal advice from the attorney general, ADHS won’t accept dispensary applications in June. However, we will continue to process applications for patient and caregiver cards,” the website states.
In the absence of dispensaries, people certified to receive medical marijuana have the legal right to grow as many as 12 marijuana plants in a secured area for their own use, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
