Medical marijuana shop owners are largest donors in Glendale City Council races

Jen Fifield | The Republic | azcentral.com

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The three owners of a medical marijuana dispensary in Glendale are the largest individual donors to candidates for Glendale City Council so far.

Combined, the owners of Arizona Organix —William Benjamin Myer, Ryan Wells and Mark Myer — contributed a total of $38,100 to three candidates in the city's two competitive races in this year's election. The primary election is Aug. 28.

RELATED: Phoenix is investigating medical-marijuana zoning case allegations, officials say

The owners are contributing to candidates who, if reelected, may sometimes make decisions that will affect their business' operations. In March, for instance, the council voted to make the city's zoning law on medical marijuana dispensaries less restrictive after hearing the company wanted to expand.

The contributions came shortly after that vote, in May.

Owners make maximum contributions

The owners gave to both Councilman Jamie Aldama and Emmanuel Allen, Aldama's challenger for the Ocotillo district seat.

All three owners gave Allen $6,350 — the maximum contribution individuals can make under state law — for a total of $19,050.

Mark and William Myer gave Aldama $6,350, for a total of $12,700.

Mark Myer also gave $6,350 to Ray Strahl. Strahl is challenging Councilman Bart Turner for the Barrel District seat.

Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff is running unopposed in the Cholla district. She did not receive any contributions from the owners.

The contributions make up about 80 percent of Allen's contributions from others by the mid-July filing deadline, 26.6 percent of Aldama's and 73.8 percent of Strahl's.

Local firefighter union political-action committees were another large donor group. They gave $9,500 to Aldama.

The owners of Organix responded to a request for an interview with a statement sent by their attorney, Tom Galvin of Rose Law Group.

The owners said in the statement they are thinking long-term about the company's place in Glendale, and they hope to be a part of the city's continued growth.

"We appreciate the dedicated public servants from both sides of the aisle, who have worked together to make Glendale a great city to do business and raise a family," the owners said.

Organix expands to meet demand

State law regulates medical marijuana production and dispensaries, but cities can restrict operations through zoning laws.

Organix was the first dispensary to open in the state, in 2012. Since then, the demand for its product has grown.

The owners of Organix went to the Glendale City Council in March hoping to expand its location at Glendale and 53rd avenues. Mark Myer and Galvin told the council that the business needed to expand to meet demand.

Galvin told the council that the number of annual patient visits at the site has grown from about 40,000 to 88,000. The dispensary has a small waiting room "where people can't even get a seat," he said.

The council voted to change the zoning law to allow medical marijuana businesses to be in a space up to 6,000-square-feet, up from 2,000-square-feet, and to stay open two hours later, until 10 p.m.

Aldama and Turner voted in support of the change, along with Mayor Jerry Weiers and Councilman Ian Hugh.

Tolmachoff, along with Councilwoman Joyce Clark and Councilman Ray Malnar, voted against the measure.

Candidate doesn't a see conflict

Aldama was the only candidate of the three who received contributions who returned requests for comment.

Aldama said the owners contributed through his campaign website, and they didn't contact him about it so he doesn't know why they contributed.

He said he does not think accepting the donations makes him beholden to the company if he is reelected and it comes before the council again.

Asked whether there are any upcoming council discussions related to medical marijuana, Aldama said he was not aware of any.

Business name undisclosed by one candidate

Aldama and Strahl were more transparent than Allen about where the money came from on the campaign finance forms they submitted to the city.

On campaign finance forms, candidate's campaigns are required to record each contributor's name, as well as other information about the contributor such as employer and occupation.

On Aldama and Strahl's form, their campaigns listed the Organix owners' employer as Organix. On Allen's form, his campaign listed "self-employed" as the employer.

Under state guidelines, if a contributor is self-employed, "the contributor should list the name, company or title through which he or she does business."

Reach reporter Jen Fifield at 602-444-8763 or jen.fifield@azcentral.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenAFifield.

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