Arizona court denies attempt to temporarily block ruling upholding medical-marijuana law

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery lost another round in court Thursday when the Arizona Court of Appeals denied his effort to temporarily block a ruling upholding the state’s medical-marijuana law.

A three-judge panel heard oral arguments in the morning, then quickly rejected the motion to delay a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s Dec. 4 ruling that the law is constitutional and the county must make a zoning decision about a potential dispensary. The appellate judges didn’t explain their ruling.

Read more: Arizona court denies attempt to temporarily block ruling upholding medical-marijuana law

Bid to halt medical-pot ruling due in court

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon will hear arguments at 11 a.m. today on a request to stay or suspend his recent ruling on the legality of the state’s medical-marijuana law.

Last week, Gordon ruled Arizona’s controversial medical-marijuana law does not conflict with federal drug laws and rejected arguments made by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery and Attorney General Tom Horne that state employees would be facilitating federal crimes if they issued licenses to medical-marijuana dispensaries.

Read more: Bid to halt medical-pot ruling due in court

Medical-marijuana era under way in Arizona

The state’s first medical-marijuana dispensary opened Thursday in downtown Glendale to dozens of waiting patients, two years after voters approved an initiative to legalize the drug for certain ill patients.

Situated on a tree-lined street near an antique store and a motorcycle shop, Arizona Organix does not look like the kind of place where patients can walk in and buy marijuana, except for a tall sign outside that sports a green cross, the symbol of the medical-marijuana industry.

The business has a part-bank, part-doctor’s office feel.

Read more: Medical-marijuana era under way in Arizona

Medical-marijuana era under way in Arizona

The state’s first medical-marijuana dispensary opened Thursday in downtown Glendale to dozens of waiting patients, two years after voters approved an initiative to legalize the drug for certain ill patients.

Situated on a tree-lined street near an antique store and a motorcycle shop, Arizona Organix does not look like the kind of place where patients can walk in and buy marijuana, except for a tall sign outside that sports a green cross, the symbol of the medical-marijuana industry.

Read more: Medical-marijuana era under way in Arizona

Judge rules Arizona’s medical-marijuana law is constitutional

A court ruling that Arizona’s controversial medical-marijuana law does not conflict with federal drug laws cleared the way Tuesday for dispensaries to open and allows patients to legally obtain marijuana from the facilities.

The long-awaited decision by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon rejected arguments made by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne that the voter-approved law should be shut down because marijuana is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act and that state employees would be facilitating federal crimes if they issued licenses to medical-marijuana dispensaries.

Read more: Judge rules Arizona’s medical-marijuana law is constitutional