At least one major dispute already has erupted among Arizona’s fledgling marijuana businesses. Al Sobol, one of the industry marketers featured in our earlier cover story about Proposition 203 (“Chronic Future,” November 25) filed a complaint in January with the U.S. Justice Department, alleging collusion between some would-be dispensary owners…
Greenlee County’s population of about 8,500 supports only one pharmacy. Yet a plan devised by the state Department of Health Services could mean the rural area of eastern Arizona will be home to a marijuana dispensary. It seems unlikely that anyone would decide voluntarily to open a specialty retail store catering…
As New Times and other news media reported on Monday, the latest proposed medical pot guidelines restrict the number of dispensaries to arbitrary boundaries known by their cute acronym: CHAAs. Each of the 124 state-licensed dispensaries could inhabit no more than one CHAA, and would be selected at random from the pool of applicants…
The voter-approved medical marijuana system doesn’t go far enough for one Republican lawmaker. Under a bill introduced by Representative John Fillmore of Apache Junction, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana — by anyone — would become a petty offense and carry a fine of only $100. Fillmore…
A state database under development will help regulators figure out whether money-minded doctors and recreational pot users exploit Arizona’s new medical-marijuana program. State residents can begin obtaining recommendations and applying for medical pot cards starting on April 14 under the voter-approved Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. Thousands of people are expected to take advantage of the…
Arbitrary locations around the state created in 2005 by the state Department of Health Services will help guide where medical marijuana stores will go. The state agency created the “Community Health Analysis Areas” in 2005 for other purposes, but has found them useful in rolling out the new medical…
The second round of proposed rules for Arizona’s medical marijuana program eases previously suggested restrictions, making it easier for patients to obtain pot.The newest proposed guidelines from the state Department of Health Services, released this morning, would allow doctors to evaluate a person’s physical condition and medical records, then agree…
Former Phoenix police officer James Wren was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison today for ripping off drug dealers while on the job. Valley Fever reported details of the crimes after Wren was busted in June. The officer, who’s dad was also a cop, and an accomplice had conspired to target…
Republicans are anti-marijuana and anti-tax. Unless there’s a buck to be made. Tom Horne, the state’s new Attorney General, just came out in favor of taxing the medical marijuana soon to be sold in Arizona. True, a small tax on the product isn’t such a bad idea. The pot shops…
The machine-gun equipped “Raptor” vehicle, made by a Phoenix company, seems like the perfect answer to road rage To hell with your “road rage.” Anybody gives us attitude, we’re gonna have our kid pop out the top of our new Saracen International Raptor and pulverize their ass. Don’t confuse this…
Unreal. The same people responsible for tens of millions in claims being filed against Maricopa County are now drooling after their own pot of gold. Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and David Hendershott, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s former right-hand man have filed a notice of claim along with Thomas’ former lackey, Lisa Aubuchon, for a combined…
Kyrsten Sinema’s pissed when she calls us back last night. “I didn’t mistakenly vote for shit!” she fumes. “They explained what we were voting on wrong.” The Democratic state senator’s ire isn’t directed at us, but rather at her Republican colleagues at the state Capitol — and also at Arizona Daily…
A North Carolina mayor is catching hell for writing on his Facebook page something that millions probably would love to tell Jared Lee Loughner to his face. News that Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others, including a little girl, had been shot by a gun-wielding madman last week brought feelings of sorrow and…
There isn’t much difference between a fully automatic M-16 machine gun and the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, both of which are readily available for sale in Arizona. Both shoot the same, high-powered .223-caliber ammo and can be loaded with large-capacity magazines of 30 rounds or more. Except for different internal workings…
About 60 percent of Americans believe police presence should be mandatory when members of Congress hold Town Hall-type events, a new poll shows. The poll, commissioned by The Hill, a Washington D.C. newspaper, also found that 91 percent of Americans want to keep seeing meet-and-greets with members of Congress like the one Gabrielle Giffords was at on January 8…
Jared Lee Loughner is just one of many mass shooters in recent history who worried more about damaging his hearing than slaughtering innocent people. Video surveillance footage reportedly shows that Tucson shooter Jared Lee Loughner had inserted ear plugs before opening fire with his Glock and shooting 20 people…
When Douglas Police Chief Alberto Melis got word in August of 2009 that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords planned an event at a local Safeway, his thoughts immediately turned to security.Giffords’ press secretary, CJ Karamargin, sent an e-mail to several city officials to notify them about the “Congress on Your Corner” event…
Mary Rose Wilcox, one of five members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, didn’t disclose her business interests to the public like she should have, that much is clear. But multiple felonies? No way, says Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores. “With the utter lack of motive or evidence of…
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox won’t face any criminal charges in the crappy case against her put together by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores rejected the idea of charging Wilcox, one of five members of the Maricopa County Board…
The problem of sewer water leaking on surgical patients at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix began as early as April of 2009, a newly obtained report shows. Until we received the report today, we’d been under the impression that two incidents of water leaking into…
Gabrielle Giffords chose to have no security at her Congress on Your Corner events, it’s been well-reported by now.No cops were standing by when Jared Loughner opened fire on innocent people, starting with Giffords. And the lack of security wasn’t unprecedented: Other members of Congress held — and still plan…
Safeway is weighing whether to hold Congress on Your Corner events in the future following Tucson’s tragic shooting of Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people. “The security of our customers and anyone who comes to our store is always very important to us,” says Safeway spokewoman Teena Massingill, at…
