La Grange trustees are questioning whether the village is ready to embrace medical marijuana ahead of a likely vote on where to allow a marijuana dispensary in the village under a new state law.
“I’ve got a hill to climb here yet before I’d jump off with both feet on medical marijuana,” Village President Tom Livingston said at an April 28 meeting.
Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act allows 60 dispensaries to be opened in the state. The law limits where the dispensaries can go and gives local governments leeway to add more restrictions as long as the restrictions are “reasonable.” The law allows one dispensary in an area that covers Lyons Township, Lemont Township and Palos Township.
La Grange is an attractive location for that one dispensary, said Tanya Griffin, who said she represents a group of medical specialists interested in opening a dispensary.
“You’ve always been progressive,” Griffin said. ” … I think this is a very good town to showcase a medical marijuana dispensary.”
La Grange’s reputation as a safe, affluent area with a dynamic shopping center makes it appealing, she said. She expects the average medical marijuana patient will have a significant disposable income, will want to feel safe purchasing the drug and might shop at other businesses in the same trip.
The group is especially interested in opening a dispensary at 120 E. Burlington Ave., just east of Jackson Square Mall, she said. She encouraged the Village Board to pass zoning rules that would allow the shop in the prominent commercial area. The board is scheduled to vote on zoning rules May 12.
But Trustee Jeff Nowak questioned how progressive La Grange is. He said he welcomed feedback from residents, but said his sense is that “La Grange residents do not want us to be on the cutting edge in terms of having a medical marijuana dispensary in our village.”
Livingston expressed a concern about preserving La Grange’s character.
“We want to make sure whatever policies we enact do not create a dissonance, or do not chase away the vibrancy of our town,” he said.
The state law prohibits dispensaries in residential areas and within 1,000 feet of schools and child care centers. Only La Grange’s northeast corner and a couple commercially zoned pockets along South La Grange Road are eligible for the shops under the law, Assistant Community Development Department Director Angela Mesaros has said.
If the village were to add more restrictions — like a buffer zone outside residential areas as some municipalities have enacted — the available space for a dispensary would quickly shrink to nothing, Mesaros has said.
The Village Plan Commission made a recommendation in March that the Village Board allow medical marijuana dispensaries across the street from residences but not next door to them.
wjventeicher@tribune.com
Twitter @wesventeicher
La Grange leaders question if village is ready for marijuana dispenary
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