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Despite what some called the "slim" chance of needing them, Niles officials soon may consider rules on where to allow the growth or distribution of medical marijuana in the village.
Members of the village's plan commission and zoning board of appeals agreed Monday night to have staff members prepare draft regulations for further discussion at next month's meeting.
This summer, Illinois joined the ranks of more than a dozen states to legalize medical marijuana.
Set to take effect Jan. 1, the new four-year pilot program allows those with an approved medical condition to acquire a card making them legally able to acquire up to 2.5 ounces every two weeks.
The law permits up to 60 medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, and up to 22 cultivation centers.
Dispensaries cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school or child-care facility, and cannot be in a residential structure or within a residential zoning district.
Cultivation centers are prohibited from being within 2,500 feet of a school, child care facility or in area zoned for residential use.
The law further restricts cultivation centers to only one per each state police district, meaning only one cultivation center would be allowed in Cook County, said Bruce Sylvester, Niles senior planner.
"The chances that one center will be in Niles are pretty slim," Sylvester said.
Local municipalities have the option of enacting zoning rules on where dispensaries or growers can set up shop, so long as those zoning rules are not so restrictive as to constitute a ban.
A handful of communities have examined their zoning codes since Gov. Pat Quinn signed the medical marijuana law in August. Others, like the City of Park Ridge, are not yet ready to tackle the subject.
"We are still in the information-gathering phase," said Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton. "It's going to be discussed at some point."
A consultant presented Niles officials with recommendations for how to address medical marijuana in its zoning code, with most suggesting that zoning code language remain consistent with the state law.
The consultant suggested that a dispensary could be required to get a special-use permit to open in the village's business districts, similar to regulations concerning medical and dental clinics.
Cultivation centers, on the other hand, could open under a special use in the manufacturing district.
"I think it's great that at least somebody is talking about it," said Teri Collins, executive director of the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation.
The foundation, which works on drug and alcohol prevention programs in the area, has come out in opposition to the state law.
Collins said she has heard from some community members who think medical marijuana will be available at common drugstore chains.
"There is a segment of the population that really doesn't understand it," she said.
Collins said she supported existing restrictions on the proximity of medical marijuana to schools. She also urged local leaders to consider how a young person's "perception of harm" could be lowered by the sight of medical marijuana dispensaries in "mainstream commercial areas."
"When the perception of harm of anything is low, more kids are going to try it," she said.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: chicagotribune.com
Author: Jonathan Bullington
Contact: Chicago Tribune contacts - chicagotribune.com
Website: Niles eyes medical marijuana rules - chicagotribune.com
Members of the village's plan commission and zoning board of appeals agreed Monday night to have staff members prepare draft regulations for further discussion at next month's meeting.
This summer, Illinois joined the ranks of more than a dozen states to legalize medical marijuana.
Set to take effect Jan. 1, the new four-year pilot program allows those with an approved medical condition to acquire a card making them legally able to acquire up to 2.5 ounces every two weeks.
The law permits up to 60 medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, and up to 22 cultivation centers.
Dispensaries cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school or child-care facility, and cannot be in a residential structure or within a residential zoning district.
Cultivation centers are prohibited from being within 2,500 feet of a school, child care facility or in area zoned for residential use.
The law further restricts cultivation centers to only one per each state police district, meaning only one cultivation center would be allowed in Cook County, said Bruce Sylvester, Niles senior planner.
"The chances that one center will be in Niles are pretty slim," Sylvester said.
Local municipalities have the option of enacting zoning rules on where dispensaries or growers can set up shop, so long as those zoning rules are not so restrictive as to constitute a ban.
A handful of communities have examined their zoning codes since Gov. Pat Quinn signed the medical marijuana law in August. Others, like the City of Park Ridge, are not yet ready to tackle the subject.
"We are still in the information-gathering phase," said Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton. "It's going to be discussed at some point."
A consultant presented Niles officials with recommendations for how to address medical marijuana in its zoning code, with most suggesting that zoning code language remain consistent with the state law.
The consultant suggested that a dispensary could be required to get a special-use permit to open in the village's business districts, similar to regulations concerning medical and dental clinics.
Cultivation centers, on the other hand, could open under a special use in the manufacturing district.
"I think it's great that at least somebody is talking about it," said Teri Collins, executive director of the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation.
The foundation, which works on drug and alcohol prevention programs in the area, has come out in opposition to the state law.
Collins said she has heard from some community members who think medical marijuana will be available at common drugstore chains.
"There is a segment of the population that really doesn't understand it," she said.
Collins said she supported existing restrictions on the proximity of medical marijuana to schools. She also urged local leaders to consider how a young person's "perception of harm" could be lowered by the sight of medical marijuana dispensaries in "mainstream commercial areas."
"When the perception of harm of anything is low, more kids are going to try it," she said.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: chicagotribune.com
Author: Jonathan Bullington
Contact: Chicago Tribune contacts - chicagotribune.com
Website: Niles eyes medical marijuana rules - chicagotribune.com
