Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Cresco Labs has already applied for construction permits for its planned medical marijuana cultivation center in south Kankakee and once construction begins, the first crop could be ready for harvest within 12 months, a Cresco official said.
The Chicago-based company said construction should take six months, and the marijuana would take another six months to grow before being harvested. All growing operations will be done indoors.
About 1,000 people statewide have applied for medical marijuana ID cards. These cards will be necessary to purchase marijuana from state-monitored dispensaries, said Melanie Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Where that Kankakee-grown product will go is yet to be determined. How many Illinoisans will ultimately be seeking its use also is unknown.
Arnold said it's likely that many applicants may have been waiting for Gov. Bruce Rauner's OK on these sites before filling out the paperwork. Because this is a new program, Arnold said some details are still missing.
What she does know is whether someone seeking an ID must have a physician's certification. This document proves to the state that the patient needs the drug. After that, the state completes a criminal background check.
How much money will find its way into the Kankakee budget also is not yet known although the city has deals with Cresco to get a minimum of $50,000 by the end of the first year.
Company spokeswoman Terri Cornelius said Tuesday the company will focus on hiring local workers for both construction and operation of the facility. Hiring of management and operations staff would begin shortly, she said.
The proposed $8-million complex is expected to be 47,000 square feet, said Kankakee planner Cliff Cross. The secured property will be on a 5.5-acre plot on the city's south side about a quarter mile south of the Love's Travel Stops along U.S. Route 45/52.
Cross said construction plans could be OK'd in as little as two to three weeks as the company has been working with the city since it approved its development plans and annexation. He believes construction could begin then.
Through the city's community benefits agreement, Cresco is committed to paying the city a minimum of $50,000 in its first year of operation, a minimum of $75,000 in the second year and at least $100,000 for the third year and thereafter.
There is speculation that if the program is as popular as anticipated, revenues to the city could be well in excess of those figures.
Operation of marijuana growing will be closely monitored with security cameras and onsite security personnel.
Medical marijuana was legalized in 2013 for Illinois patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other debilitating illnesses.
In addition to constructing and operating the grow complex in Kankakee for the Illinois State Police District 21, Cresco also will do the same for District 5 in Joliet and a third site in Logan County for District 9.
The state has awarded manufacturing permits for 18 of the possible 22 sites. One facility is to be granted for each of its 21 policing districts. Two sites were granted for the Chicago region.
The applications for three of the districts are still under review and one district did not have any applications.
Dispensary applications also were awarded. District 21, which includes Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties, did not have a dispensary applicant although Manteno's village administrator Bernie Thompson said Monday the village hopes to attract one.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First pot harvest in Kankakee? February 2016 - The Daily Journal: Local
Author: Lee Provost
Contact: lprovost@daily-journal.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Daily Journal: Serving Kankakee, Will, Iroquois, Ford, Grundy, and Livingston counties
The Chicago-based company said construction should take six months, and the marijuana would take another six months to grow before being harvested. All growing operations will be done indoors.
About 1,000 people statewide have applied for medical marijuana ID cards. These cards will be necessary to purchase marijuana from state-monitored dispensaries, said Melanie Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Where that Kankakee-grown product will go is yet to be determined. How many Illinoisans will ultimately be seeking its use also is unknown.
Arnold said it's likely that many applicants may have been waiting for Gov. Bruce Rauner's OK on these sites before filling out the paperwork. Because this is a new program, Arnold said some details are still missing.
What she does know is whether someone seeking an ID must have a physician's certification. This document proves to the state that the patient needs the drug. After that, the state completes a criminal background check.
How much money will find its way into the Kankakee budget also is not yet known although the city has deals with Cresco to get a minimum of $50,000 by the end of the first year.
Company spokeswoman Terri Cornelius said Tuesday the company will focus on hiring local workers for both construction and operation of the facility. Hiring of management and operations staff would begin shortly, she said.
The proposed $8-million complex is expected to be 47,000 square feet, said Kankakee planner Cliff Cross. The secured property will be on a 5.5-acre plot on the city's south side about a quarter mile south of the Love's Travel Stops along U.S. Route 45/52.
Cross said construction plans could be OK'd in as little as two to three weeks as the company has been working with the city since it approved its development plans and annexation. He believes construction could begin then.
Through the city's community benefits agreement, Cresco is committed to paying the city a minimum of $50,000 in its first year of operation, a minimum of $75,000 in the second year and at least $100,000 for the third year and thereafter.
There is speculation that if the program is as popular as anticipated, revenues to the city could be well in excess of those figures.
Operation of marijuana growing will be closely monitored with security cameras and onsite security personnel.
Medical marijuana was legalized in 2013 for Illinois patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other debilitating illnesses.
In addition to constructing and operating the grow complex in Kankakee for the Illinois State Police District 21, Cresco also will do the same for District 5 in Joliet and a third site in Logan County for District 9.
The state has awarded manufacturing permits for 18 of the possible 22 sites. One facility is to be granted for each of its 21 policing districts. Two sites were granted for the Chicago region.
The applications for three of the districts are still under review and one district did not have any applications.
Dispensary applications also were awarded. District 21, which includes Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties, did not have a dispensary applicant although Manteno's village administrator Bernie Thompson said Monday the village hopes to attract one.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First pot harvest in Kankakee? February 2016 - The Daily Journal: Local
Author: Lee Provost
Contact: lprovost@daily-journal.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Daily Journal: Serving Kankakee, Will, Iroquois, Ford, Grundy, and Livingston counties
