Written by Richard Mayer, Assistant Managing Editor of the Palatine Journal & Topics

 Zoning Board Hears Colfax Plan Oct. 14th

Palatine village councilmen in the coming weeks will be presented with another special use proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary facility, this time at 310 W. Colfax St. in the village’s manufacturing district north of downtown.

Councilmen on Sept. 15 denied a proposal by Northwest Medical Distribution to operate a business at 400 S. Vermont St. in an industrial area west of S. Hicks Road and south of Northwest Highway after many people in attendance that night spoke out on how they were concerned with security, traffic and overall safety of their nearby neighborhoods.

The new Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act allows for 60 dispensaries throughout the state. One dispensary permit will be used for Barrington, Hanover, and Palatine townships combined.

The new plan, which is expected to be presented to the Palatine Zoning Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the police station off Hicks Road, is being led by Mitch Meyers of Nature’s Care LLC.

According to Meyers, she has submitted to the state three applications for a medical marijuana dispensary facility. One is in Palatine, while the other two are downstate.

“We will not know if we have a license until mid-November or early December,” Meyers said, who could see all three applications approved by the state and be granted three licenses.

“A person can be granted up to five licenses for dispensaries,” Meyers commented.

Meyers said she hasn’t seen the 10,000 sq. ft warehouse facility in Palatine currently occupied by tile wholesaler Peko Tile, but said someone she knows and works with, knows the area and suggested this facility would be a suitable location for her business. She has seen the parcel online though.

Meyers’ attorney Tom Burney said Peko has tried to sell the facility for some time and should Meyers take over, she would lease the building at first with an option to purchase at a later date.

Should she open a dispensary at that location, Meyers said she would only consume 3,200 sq. ft. of the building at first and then figure out what to do with the remaining space. However, she would not be able to lease any remaining space to another businesses since her operation must be very secure at all times.

“My security plan is unbelievable,” Meyers said. “We have very expensive cameras everywhere inside and outside. We will have lighting and motion detectors too. Every part of the area will be secured and we will always know who is coming and going.”

Meyers said there are “layers” of security in place in terms of employees and guards located at the facility.

“When a patient comes in though, we don’t want them to feel threatened in any way,” Meyers said. “We are going to be more like a wellness clinic. We will have palliative counselors on board so patients are familiar with what they are purchasing.”

In addition to smoking cannabis, Meyers said there would be oils and edible food for people to purchase that will have the same effect as the traditional method.

At the beginning, Meyers said she would employ 12-15 individuals. Her hours of operation would be Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and closed on Sunday.  Meyers said she has a business background and has worked for Fortune 100 companies.  She said she partnered with a gentleman who is a horticultural grower and is considered the 25th largest plant grower in the country. She said she began to learn about the cultivation aspect of the business from him and decided to team up together.

According to Meyers, Palatine is a good location because it is near the train station so it would be accessible to people that don’t drive.

At first, she would expect approximately 30 patients to visit the facility on a daily basis.

If she receives approval to operate in Palatine, she expects to begin the business by next summer.

“It all depends on when product is available through the cultivation houses,” Meyers said.

Once the zoning board listens to the proposal, it will go in front of the village council for final approval. That proposal could be on the village council’s agenda for Oct. 20, otherwise one of the first three Mondays in November at 7 p.m. at the police station.

Since state law mandates municipalities are not permitted to prohibit a dispensary site in their community, the issue the council will decide is whether or not conditions are met and the location is appropriate.

The deadline to apply to the state for a dispensary license was Monday, Sept. 22. Dispensaries are not permitted within 1,000 ft. of any public or private preschool or elementary or secondary school or daycare center.

Cardholders must have a qualifying medical condition, be at least 18 years of age, submit an application to the Dept. of Public Health, provide a written certification from a physician and pass a background investigation.  Cardholders will be allowed to receive up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days. Additionally, cannabis they receive must be produced and obtained only in Illinois.

Village councilmen earlier this year approved a text amendment to village code adding certain locations where marijuana cultivation (growing) centers and dispensaries (facilitating centers) are allowed.