Mesa's first medical marijuana dispensary

Mesa's first medical marijuana dispensary, which opened in November, is coming under fire from a group of residents who claim the business is violating city ordinances. "I'm not against having a dispensary in Mesa," said Steve Chucri, president of the Mesa Community Coalition. "We're just trying to make sure they respect the zoning laws." The group is asking the Maricopa County Superior Court to step in and force Dank Depot to shut down or move the business out of a building off Country Club Drive that sits within 500 feet of four churches, two daycare centers and an elementary school. Mesa allows residents to open medical marijuana dispensaries with proper zoning after voters approved Proposition 203 in 2010. The Maricopa County Superior Court also has issued four injunctions ordering dispensaries to close or move since 2010. The most recent injunction, issued against Arizona Organix in June 2012, required it to close its doors by Aug. 31, 2012. The dispensary shut down and reopened three days later at a new location across town after obtaining proper zoning approval from city officials.

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