The first wave of patients to take advantage of Arizona’s new medical marijuana law may be compelled to apply for home-growing operations because the drug will not be available in licensed dispensaries until late summer, opening the door for thousands of household marijuana gardens.

Ten days after the general election, Arizona's medical marijuana ballot measure appears to be headed toward passage as Maricopa County election officials race to finish counting early and provisional ballots.

Just before 6 p.m. Friday, the Secretary of State's Office reported the measure was leading by more than 4,000 votes. It was the first time the measure had more yes votes than no votes since the ballot tally began Nov. 2.

Maricopa County will count outstanding provisional ballots through the weekend if necessary despite a state law that generally says all vote tallying must be completed by Friday, officials said.

A measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona is still trailing but the gap is closing.

A ballot measure allowing medical marijuana was too close to call. Unofficial returns Nov. 2 showed Proposition 203 trailing by a narrow margin.

Municipalities fear that without restrictions, the roughly 120 marijuana dispensaries that would be allowed to open if Proposition 203 passes could cluster in cities or be placed near churches, parks, community centers and even drug-treatment facilities.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl led a group of Republican officials Wednesday denouncing a ballot measure that would allow medical marijuana.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Oct. 20 that she opposes a November ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana in the state, arguing that it would cause pot to "needlessly and harmfully proliferate."