Planning and Development Services developed amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to create regulations for adult use marijuana dispensaries following voter approval of Proposition 207, Smart and Safe Arizona. The code amendment was adopted by Mayor and Council in April 2021.
Mayor and Council Public Hearing
On April 6, 2021, the City of Tucson held a Public Hearing to review and make a decision on the Adult Use and Medical Marijuana UDC Code Amendment. At that meeting, the Mayor and Council voted 7-0 to adopt changes to the UDC related to Adult Use and Medical Marijuana. The following is the signed adopted ordinance from that meeting, which becomes effective on May 6, 2021:
All the materials from that public hearing may be located on the Mayor and Council Agenda Page.
Planning Commission Meetings
On January 27, 2021, PDSD scheduled the Medical and Adult Use Code Amendment for a study session with the City of Tucson Planning Commission. That meeting was suspended due to a lack of quorum. Those quorum issues have now been addressed and the following is the new schedule for Planning Commission review:
Planning Commission meetings to review the Medical and Adult Use Code Amendment were held on following dates:
- Study Session - March 10, 2021 - The following is the video from that meeting:
- Public Hearing - March 17, 2021 - The following is the video from that meeting:
The Planning Commission materials from both of those meetings may be located here.
Recent Public Meetings
On January 11 & 12, 2021, PDSD held two virtual public meetings to discuss upcoming proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) related to adult-use marijuana and medical marijuana. The following are materials from those meetings:
- Monday, January 11, 2021 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
- Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - 5:30pm-7:00pm
If you would like to provide comments on the UDC amendments related to Medical and Adult Use Marijuana please fill out the following form here.
Background
On September 9, 2020, the Mayor and Council held a study session to discuss COVID-related issues with medical marijuana and to initiate the process for UDC amendments in response to the upcoming AZ Smart and Safe Act. At that meeting, they directed staff to find temporary solutions to the COVID related issues and begin the process to make more permanent changes to the Unified Development Code related to adult use Marijuana.
- Materials from that meeting may be located here.
On October 19, 2020, PDSD held a stakeholder meeting with business owners to discuss COVID-related issues they are experiencing, what options are currently available to them to address those issues and to discuss the upcoming AZ Smart and Safe Act. Some of the issues discussed were related to curbside pickup, delivery, lobbies and dispensary sizes, and parking.
- A meeting summary from the meeting may be located here.
- The presentation from that meeting may be located here.
On October 26, 2020, PDSD provided the Mayor and Council with an off-agenda memorandum with existing and potential tools to address COVID-related issues for medical marijuana dispensaries.
- The memo distributed to M&C may be located here.
November 17, 2020, the Mayor and Council held a study session as a follow up on the September 9, 2020 study session to discuss solutions to the COVID-related issues with medical marijuana and to provide further direction for UDC amendments in response to the recently passed AZ Smart and Safe Act.
- Materials from that meeting may be located here.
On December 17, 2020, PDSD held a stakeholder meeting with business owners to discuss the recently passed AZ Smart and Safe Act. Some of the issues discussed were related to dispensary sizes, parking, stand-alone manufacturing, and off-site cultivation.
- The presentation from that meeting may be located here.