By Mark Cowling | Florence Reminder & Blade-Tribune
Partners hoping to bring a medical marijuana dispensary to Florence cleared an important hurdle by receiving favorable recommendations on both their conditional use permit (CUP) and design review from the Florence Planning & Zoning Commission.
“I’m very happy,” Valley businessman Rakesh “Rocky” Pahwa commented after the meeting adjourned. “I’m excited and I thank the commissioners for their support.” It was his fourth appearance before the commission in hopes of securing a CUP. He is in partnership with Ultra Health, a medical marijuana company with an office in North Scottsdale.
Opponents pointed out potential hazards and other reasons for not welcoming medical marijuana to the community. But the commissioners said their role was not to debate the merits of state law, but to judge whether an application followed local code.
