‘Big Tree’ Revives Sticky Bud in Papago After 5-Year Hiatus

The Future site of a Nirvana Center dispensary in the Raceway Plaza on Papago Road is set to enter its remodeling phase, pending the approval of a special-use permit. The dispensary’s arrival in the commercial space at 49237 W. Papago Road has generated interest among local residents and officials alike. According to Pinal County Planning Manager Gilbert Olgin, the aim is to secure board of supervisors’ approval for the permit by January.

“Once they receive the special-use permit after the rezone, tenant improvements can commence,” Olgin noted. The new Nirvana Center will be hiring staff to operate this location, enhancing access to cannabis products in the community.

Situated next to the Raceway Bar and Grill, the new dispensary will further diversify the retail options in the area, which is the only shopping destination south of the casino. This marks the third cannabis shop to open in this vicinity, following two Ponderosa Releaf dispensaries that operated from 2015 until their closure in 2020. The previous operators chose to relocate their license, as cannabis regulations limit the number of dispensary licenses held by owners.

A neighborhood meeting held at the Raceway Bar and Grill in February attracted five local attendees, all of whom expressed support for the new dispensary. Their feedback highlighted a community need for easier access to cannabis products, noting the inconvenience posed by the previous shop’s closure.

Olgin explained that the rezoning process is a standard procedure aimed at aligning the existing commercial zoning with county requirements. Given the land’s history of cannabis retail use, the special-use permit approval is anticipated to progress smoothly.

Operational hours for the upcoming Nirvana Center have been proposed as 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The dispensary plans to implement robust security measures, ensuring compliance with Pinal County and Arizona Department of Health Services regulations. A detailed security plan will accompany the permit application.

In addition to the Nirvana Center, another cannabis retail store is under construction nearby, marking a significant expansion of cannabis businesses in the area. This new establishment will be the first within Maricopa city limits and is part of a new development adjacent to Stonegate Marketplace, which will feature a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and an Aldi grocery store.

Nirvana Center operates multiple locations across Arizona, including Apache Junction, Florence, Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, and Flagstaff. As a subsidiary of Florida-based Trulieve, it stands as one of the largest cannabis retail chains in the state, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission records.