New Coolidge marijuana cultivation center seeks expansion

COOLIDGE — A new marijuana growing facility will expand to include several more buildings on its site.

During Wednesday’s Coolidge Planning and Zoning special meeting, the commission gave the green light to add 59,640 square feet of new buildings to the facility, currently under construction.

According to Development Service Director Gilbert Lopez, the buildings, located at 3274 W. Coolidge Ave., will serve as greenhouses for “cultivation only.”

“That was a minor site plan,” said Lopez. “This is the major one that had to come before P&Z for (commissioners) to look at and approve the layout.”

At the Coolidge Fire Department’s request, the applicant — Scott Wohrman, the current owner of the Gallopin’ Goose — agreed to include a 2,000 gallon water tank to address the issue of potential fires.

Previous reports have indicated that the fully operational cultivation site would employ about 30 workers.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services Medical Marijuana Annual Report published in January 2016, the estimated 2014 population of Pinal County reached 396,237, with a rate of 7.96 qualifying medical marijuana patients per 1,000 residents.

According to the report, there was a count of 174 medical marijuana dispensary agents in Pinal County, contributing to the state total of about 2,412.

Medical marijuana use has been legal since Arizona became the 14th state to adopt the law in a November 2010 ballot initiative approved by voters.

Recreational use of marijuana in Arizona remains illegal as of the 2016 election cycle.

credit:pinalcentral.com