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Village staff are researching options for zoning the growing and selling of medical marijuana after Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill legalizing its use in Illinois.
Village President Harriet Rosenthal asked the Plan Commission in June to investigate options for regulating the location of such facilities, but commissioners have not yet acted on the proposal.
Illinois became the 20th state in the nation to allow the medical use of marijuana on Aug. 1, with Quinn signing some of the nation's toughest standards into law.
The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, sets up a four-year pilot program for state-run dispensaries and 22 so-called cultivation centers, where the plants will be grown.
Under the measure, only patients with serious illnesses or diseases will be allowed to obtain medical marijuana. The bill lists more than 30 qualifying illnesses, such as cancer, muscular dystrophy and Lupus.
The intention of the proposed regulations in Deerfield is not to ban businesses selling or growing medical marijuana, but rather to establish zoning guidelines in the event that one proposes opening in the village, Rosenthal said.
"We need to study the law and figure out how we can best deal with it if we need to deal with it," she said.
Village Manager Kent Street said village staff are expected to share their findings on the proposal with the Plan Commission in the coming weeks.
The Plan Commission will likely host a public hearing on the matter in September, said Jeff Ryckaert, principal planner for Deerfield.
"We're still in the process of studying and coming up with whatever we're thinking about doing as far as zoning regulations," Ryckaert said. "That's basically where we're at. We can regulate the location of these facilities through zoning, to my understanding."
The law established standards for the growing of medical marijuana at cultivation centers, he said. Deerfield officials will examine the possibility of regulating the zoning of those businesses, as well as dispensaries, where medical marijuana will be sold, Ryckaert said.
"We'll look at (both) and then come up with reasonable regulations of where they might go," he said. "I don't know if a cultivation center would really work in Deerfield. It might require a more rural or industrial area."
The proposed zoning regulations will likely "lean toward industrial districts," in particular I-2 limited industrial zoning, and allow the location of medical marijuana businesses through special uses in such districts, Ryckaert said.
"We're going to look into it some more, hold a public hearing in September, and then send a recommendation to the Village Board of Trustees," he said.
In June Police Chief John Sliozis joined area police chiefs in urging residents to contact Quinn to ask him not to sign the bill.
Sliozis said the proposed law would allow high school seniors to get 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks — enough for about 13 marijuana cigarettes per day.
Both Sliozis and Lincolnshire Police Chief Peter Kinsey expressed concerns about what users will do with any unused cigarettes, or "joints."
"Those are the biggest issues. That is a pretty substantial amount that I would assume leads to the potential of some leftover," Sliozis said. "When that amount of a drug gets into an 18-year-old's hands, the potential for abuse is certainly greater."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: suntimes.com
Author: Phil Rockrohr
Contact: https://deerfield.suntimes.com/pioneer_contactus-WYD-07012013:article
Website: https://deerfield.suntimes.com/news/marijuana-DFR-08082013:article
Village President Harriet Rosenthal asked the Plan Commission in June to investigate options for regulating the location of such facilities, but commissioners have not yet acted on the proposal.
Illinois became the 20th state in the nation to allow the medical use of marijuana on Aug. 1, with Quinn signing some of the nation's toughest standards into law.
The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, sets up a four-year pilot program for state-run dispensaries and 22 so-called cultivation centers, where the plants will be grown.
Under the measure, only patients with serious illnesses or diseases will be allowed to obtain medical marijuana. The bill lists more than 30 qualifying illnesses, such as cancer, muscular dystrophy and Lupus.
The intention of the proposed regulations in Deerfield is not to ban businesses selling or growing medical marijuana, but rather to establish zoning guidelines in the event that one proposes opening in the village, Rosenthal said.
"We need to study the law and figure out how we can best deal with it if we need to deal with it," she said.
Village Manager Kent Street said village staff are expected to share their findings on the proposal with the Plan Commission in the coming weeks.
The Plan Commission will likely host a public hearing on the matter in September, said Jeff Ryckaert, principal planner for Deerfield.
"We're still in the process of studying and coming up with whatever we're thinking about doing as far as zoning regulations," Ryckaert said. "That's basically where we're at. We can regulate the location of these facilities through zoning, to my understanding."
The law established standards for the growing of medical marijuana at cultivation centers, he said. Deerfield officials will examine the possibility of regulating the zoning of those businesses, as well as dispensaries, where medical marijuana will be sold, Ryckaert said.
"We'll look at (both) and then come up with reasonable regulations of where they might go," he said. "I don't know if a cultivation center would really work in Deerfield. It might require a more rural or industrial area."
The proposed zoning regulations will likely "lean toward industrial districts," in particular I-2 limited industrial zoning, and allow the location of medical marijuana businesses through special uses in such districts, Ryckaert said.
"We're going to look into it some more, hold a public hearing in September, and then send a recommendation to the Village Board of Trustees," he said.
In June Police Chief John Sliozis joined area police chiefs in urging residents to contact Quinn to ask him not to sign the bill.
Sliozis said the proposed law would allow high school seniors to get 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks — enough for about 13 marijuana cigarettes per day.
Both Sliozis and Lincolnshire Police Chief Peter Kinsey expressed concerns about what users will do with any unused cigarettes, or "joints."
"Those are the biggest issues. That is a pretty substantial amount that I would assume leads to the potential of some leftover," Sliozis said. "When that amount of a drug gets into an 18-year-old's hands, the potential for abuse is certainly greater."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: suntimes.com
Author: Phil Rockrohr
Contact: https://deerfield.suntimes.com/pioneer_contactus-WYD-07012013:article
Website: https://deerfield.suntimes.com/news/marijuana-DFR-08082013:article
