Rancho Mirage Takes Step Closer To Giving Green Light To Medical Marijuana

The City of Rancho Mirage is one step closer to getting its first legal medical marijuana dispensary.

On Thursday, the Rancho Mirage Planning Commission voted to present a zoning change to the Rancho Mirage City Council.

If passed, Rancho Mirage would become the second city in the valley to authorize a medical marijuana dispensary.

The new ordinance would allow one dispensary per 20,000 residents. Right now, Rancho Mirage has about 17,000 people.

The proposal would allow the dispensaries to operate in general commercial, hospital and office zones.

It also contains distance requirements from schools, parks and religious institutions.

One dispensary, Desert Heart Collective, opened in an office park off Bob Hope Drive and Highway 111 after city officials refused to issue a business permit. The city shut it down after the council imposed a 45-day moratorium on dispensaries opening or operating.

The council will vote on the new zoning ordnance on October 21st.