Bane or boon? Now that medical marijuana grow facilities are a reality in the Verde Valley, what economic impact will it have on our communities?

A quick background

Cannabis (marijuana) remains listed as a Schedule I substance under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Schedule I identifies the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as having "a high potential for abuse" as well as "no established medical use."

Although the cultivation, possession, sale, use and transportation of cannabis remains illegal under federal law, individual states are allowed to decriminalize the substance - - as long as it is regulated. Possible avenues of legalization include medical use by qualified patients via regulated dispensaries; commercial cultivation facilities; industrial applications (such as hemp apparel) and/or personal recreational use, depending on state law.

In 2010, Arizona voters approved Proposition 203 to allow the use and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. To deal with incoming...