The Town of Camp Verde is considering whether or not to allow retail recreational marijuana in the town limits and is seeking public feedback through a survey. Residents are encouraged to share their input about potential retail recreational marijuana sales within the Town of Camp Verde.
Although the Town Code and Planning & Zoning Ordinance allow for retail medical marijuana sales — despite the absence of any medical marijuana establishments — the sale of recreational marijuana is not currently permitted. Proposition 207 legalized medical marijuana in Arizona in 2012. Recreation marijuana became legal in 2020, with the passage of Proposition 207 and first state-licensed sales occurring on Jan. 22, 2021. Municipalities could opt out of allowing dispensaries in their jurisdictions.
The Town Council held two public meetings, a special session on Aug. 15 and a work session on Sept. 25, to explore the possibility of allowing retail recreational marijuana. During the sessions, they received feedback from the public and representatives from an interested recreational marijuana dispensary. Town staff provided insights on the regulation of recreational marijuana products by the state of Arizona. The council also discussed the potential for retail recreational marijuana sales to boost sales tax revenue and provide local retail access to residents who must leave the community to purchase marijuana.
“Engaging the community has been a priority of mine since I joined the Camp Verde team in May. We value community feedback and look forward to receiving input about the potential allowance for recreational marijuana. Survey results will be presented to the Town Council to better inform them as they consider how to best move forward for the community,” Town Manager Miranda Fisher said. “We strongly encourage all stakeholders to take five to 10 minutes of their time to complete the survey. The more people who participate, the better data we will have to inform our decisions.”
To participate, visit polco.us/s2rrut. The survey closes on Friday, Nov. 22. Participant responses will remain anonymous. Paper copies of the survey for stakeholders to provide feedback will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office at 473 S. Main Street and the Camp Verde Community Library at 130 Black Bridge Loop Road.
