Cannabis dispensaries in unincorporated Pima County must comply with both Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) licensing and county zoning requirements. State law requires dispensaries be at least 500 feet from schools. Pima County zoning code treats dispensaries as a commercial use requiring a conditional use permit in most zones.
Under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA) and Proposition 207, cannabis dispensaries (dual-licensed for medical and recreational) must obtain ADHS licenses and comply with local zoning. ARS 36-2804 requires dispensaries be located at least 500 feet from a public or private school (measured property line to property line). Pima County treats dispensaries as a conditional use in commercial and industrial zones. A conditional use permit (CUP) requires public notice, a hearing before the Board of Adjustment, and review of parking, traffic, and neighborhood impacts. The county has not adopted dispensary-specific buffer zones beyond the state 500-foot school setback. Dispensaries must meet all commercial building, ADA, and fire code requirements. Pima County had approximately 20 licensed dispensary locations in the greater Tucson metro area as of 2024. Contact Pima County Development Services for zoning verification.
Operating a dispensary without proper ADHS licensing is a felony under Arizona law. Operating in a zone where dispensaries are not permitted or without a conditional use permit results in county code enforcement action including cease-and-desist orders and fines. Violating the 500-foot school setback may result in license revocation by ADHS.
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See how Pima County's dispensary zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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