Robert Celt
New Member
Medical marijuana dispensaries would be allowed in the Loop under a change to Chicago zoning regulations pitched by Ald. Ed Burke and a campaign contributor he once helped to nearly double his state pension through a one-month sweetheart deal.
Former-state-lawmaker-turned-lobbyist Robert Molaro told the City Council Zoning Committee on Tuesday about the roadblock that pot dispensaries now face: They're technically allowed in some Loop areas, but the potential sites are within 1,000 feet of a school or day-care facility, and that rules them out under state law.
Tweaking the zoning classifications would open up some downtown locations to dispensaries, provided the would-be owners managed to get a special-use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Molaro told aldermen. Securing such a permit requires a public hearing, and nearby residents and property owners can weigh in.
Molaro said he has been retained as an attorney for Maribis of Chicago, which has already gained approval to open a dispensary in Burke's Southwest Side ward. Burke, 14th, maintained that not allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the Loop "may not make any real sense" and could have been an "oversight" of those who drafted the initial regulations.
Burke and Molaro have a long-standing political relationship. After Molaro left the General Assembly in late 2008, he went to work for Burke for a month. Molaro was paid $12,000 to write a 19-page paper about Chicago's ailing pension funds. The extra month of work nearly doubled Molaro's pension to more than $120,000 a year, the Tribune found.
Since Molaro's resignation from the legislature, his lobbying firm has contributed $3,000 to Burke's 14th Ward Regular Democratic Organization and $3,200 to the Friends of Edward M. Burke campaign fund, according to state campaign finance reports.
Also supporting the medical pot proposal was 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly, whose ward includes most of the Loop. Reilly said it would open up five or six spots in the Loop as possible locations for a dispensary.
"Very sick people who need this to treat their conditions are being forced (to go to) less accessible areas of the city," Reilly said.
"There are a number of community controls still in place," Reilly added, referring to the special-use permit process. "There aren't a whole lot of places in the downtown area where this would be available anyway, because we do have so many schools and child-care facilities."
The full council is expected to consider the change next month.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: IL: Medical Pot Could Come To Loop Under Clout-Heavy Change
Author: Hal Dardick
Contact: Chicago Tribune
Photo Credit: Taylor Kent
Website: Chicago Tribune
Former-state-lawmaker-turned-lobbyist Robert Molaro told the City Council Zoning Committee on Tuesday about the roadblock that pot dispensaries now face: They're technically allowed in some Loop areas, but the potential sites are within 1,000 feet of a school or day-care facility, and that rules them out under state law.
Tweaking the zoning classifications would open up some downtown locations to dispensaries, provided the would-be owners managed to get a special-use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Molaro told aldermen. Securing such a permit requires a public hearing, and nearby residents and property owners can weigh in.
Molaro said he has been retained as an attorney for Maribis of Chicago, which has already gained approval to open a dispensary in Burke's Southwest Side ward. Burke, 14th, maintained that not allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the Loop "may not make any real sense" and could have been an "oversight" of those who drafted the initial regulations.
Burke and Molaro have a long-standing political relationship. After Molaro left the General Assembly in late 2008, he went to work for Burke for a month. Molaro was paid $12,000 to write a 19-page paper about Chicago's ailing pension funds. The extra month of work nearly doubled Molaro's pension to more than $120,000 a year, the Tribune found.
Since Molaro's resignation from the legislature, his lobbying firm has contributed $3,000 to Burke's 14th Ward Regular Democratic Organization and $3,200 to the Friends of Edward M. Burke campaign fund, according to state campaign finance reports.
Also supporting the medical pot proposal was 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly, whose ward includes most of the Loop. Reilly said it would open up five or six spots in the Loop as possible locations for a dispensary.
"Very sick people who need this to treat their conditions are being forced (to go to) less accessible areas of the city," Reilly said.
"There are a number of community controls still in place," Reilly added, referring to the special-use permit process. "There aren't a whole lot of places in the downtown area where this would be available anyway, because we do have so many schools and child-care facilities."
The full council is expected to consider the change next month.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: IL: Medical Pot Could Come To Loop Under Clout-Heavy Change
Author: Hal Dardick
Contact: Chicago Tribune
Photo Credit: Taylor Kent
Website: Chicago Tribune
