Laura Crain Drug Free Program Coordinator McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition
Identify where and how coalitions can be most effective in creating change related to: State Law Local Government Looking at ways to minimize the impact of locations Perception of use Financial imposition on local government
January, 2011 Medical Cannabis failed in the Illinois House by only 4 votes August, 2013 Governor Quinn signed the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program January 1, 2014 the program started September, 2014 first patients applied for cards February, 2015 first round winners of licensure for cultivation and dispensary announced June, 2015 first cultivation center opened August, 2015 first dispensary completed licensing process October, 2015 expected first sale
Be aware of all pending bills and associated support material Educate legislators about marijuana consequences Educate community groups on how medical or legalized marijuana will affect them and their business If the bill passes, monitor all changes and make sure you track any additional agency policy that is related
Local Government changes Monitored program vs. home grown Cannabidiol (CBD) Ownership of both cultivation center and dispensary Number and location of cultivation centers and dispensaries Advertising Background check for patients and caregivers Definition of intoxicated driver Youth use Use of tax money Prevention plans
November 19, 2013 Woodstock City Council approved that a medical cannabis dispensary or cultivation center would need to first apply for a special use permit. This allows for public input on the location. Zoning changes restricted a dispensary location beyond the Illinois statute to light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, or agricultural zoned areas. It also added that a dispensary cannot be located within 1,000 ft. of a park, church or residential area. July 24, 2014 Woodstock Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve a special use permit consideration be moved to the city council agenda. August 19, 2014 Woodstock City Council approved a special use permit for a Medical Cannabis Dispensary if all of the recommendations of the coalition, with the exception of restricted hours, be added as terms for the permit .
View on medical cannabis Opinion on location Establish priorities of concern Advertising Security Location Others
A letter was drafted to Mayor Sager and given to the executive team, evaluator, and a member of the Lake Co. Task Force for input. (Lake Co. representative worked with the State of Illinois on revisions to the act) The letter was revised and sent to the mayor for consideration at the council meeting. Note: The mayor is one of the coalitions strongest supporters and advocates so out of respect the decision was made to send information to him first instead of the entire council at one time.
In order to understand these considerations we will provide some information that not everybody is aware of as it has applied to other states that have initiated legal medical cannabis programs and some clarification as to the Illinois the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. The State of Illinois law and Federal law do not align with regards to the sale of medical cannabis. Due to banks being federally insured and regulated they cannot accept any transactions that involve the purchase of medical cannabis, therefore, the distribution center will be an all cash business. Large amounts of cash and drugs make any location a target. Attached are several recent articles about burglaries at drug dispensaries as well as robbery of their customers. The coalition spoke with Tom Gorman, Director of Rocky Mountain HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) on Thursday 8/7/14, and he indicated that these articles only represent a fraction of the incidents. In the past two days in the Denver area he had been notified of four robberies.
Security: Enhanced external lighting Pole camera(s) that allows for complete coverage of external access points included but not limited to doors and parking lots Reduction in foliage that allow for clear view of parking lot and doors Hours of operation limited to no later than 5 p.m. Armed security personnel at minimum during sales hours
Signage/Advertising No lighted sign including but not limited to neon or fluorescent (exempt: a lit open/closed sign) No images depicting marijuana leaf/plant or marijuana products including but not limited to bongs, rolled marijuana, one-hitter/vaporizers, or consumable products in signs Window signs shall be limited to hours of operation and open/close (this is also a safety issue for clear view into the distribution center) No public advertising including but not limited to flyers, billboards, bus stops, yard or "leader" signs within the city limits A clear sign indicating nobody under that age of 18 allowed in the dispensary No external signage greater than 10 sq. feet One external sign per dispensary
The mayor and council all had the informational letter from the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition in front of them and referenced it throughout the conversation regarding approval of the special use permit. The mayor commended the coalition on their approach to this situation and took the stance that all security and signage/advertising restrictions be added as contingencies to the variance. The distribution center attorney asked for a small accommodation to adding the name of the location to the door or window in a clear but small way to designate it within the strip of other stores. They also commended the coalition on their careful consideration of the issue.
Approval of the special use permit to the medical cannabis dispensary based on all the coalition concerns being addressed as contingencies to the approval. Exception: hours of operation being limited to 5:00 p.m. The special use permit is also conditional on City of Woodstock approval of the security plan that will be submitted to the State of Illinois Police.
Additional information was provided for consideration in the security plan review. It was stated by the representatives of the dispensary that the cameras would feed directly to the state police. Local law enforcement felt it was critical for response and investigation purposes that they have access to the footage as well. The security plan should include a fire plan that treats the product as a hazardous material incident and that the dispensary provide appropriate equipment to handle such an incident.
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