Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A proposed medical marijuana dispensary in Woodstock is on its way to becoming a reality while a larger marijuana cultivation center slated for McHenry seems to be on its last legs.
Gov. Bruce Rauner approved 52 dispensary licenses and 18 cultivation center licenses for medical marijuana this week, leaving four cultivation centers and eight dispensaries to be decided, including those that would serve McHenry County residents.
Because of population size, McHenry County will receive only one of the 60 eligible dispensaries and it appears that business will be located in Woodstock. City Council members approved zoning for a dispensary in the fall and the state recently approved the business to complete the registration process.
While the business – Ultimate Treatments Ltd. – did not receive full licensure yet, it is also not on the "further review" list that has slowed the process for five potential Illinois dispensaries. Cort Carlson, community and economic development director for Woodstock, said city officials are continuing under the assumption the business will come to the community.
"The whole process sort of changed with the administration change in Springfield, and it has been slower than anticipated," Carlson said. "But from our operations, they are ready to go whenever the state gives them permission."
The dispensary, if approved as expected, would be at 2300-2312 S. Eastwood Drive and serve 10 to 12 people per day, according to developer estimates.
With Woodstock poised to reap some benefits of an estimated $36 million market for Illinois in 2016, McHenry appears to have lost out on a cultivation center that would have brought even greater economic incentives.
The proposed 44,000-square-foot building to have been operated by Phoenix Farms LLC would have made 10 years of payments to McHenry and contributions to McHenry Riverwalk Foundation and Historic Petersen Farm Foundation had it come to the city.
But because only one cultivation center can operate within a state police district, there was heavy competition in the five-county area that included McHenry, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb and Lake. Curative Health LLC is the pending choice to open a center near Aurora in Kane County, but the proposed center is on the "further review" list and could lose the spot.
McHenry administrator Derik Morefield said officials will hold out hope until the decision is final.
"As far as we understand it, the District 2 announcement has not yet been confirmed and there is supposedly an investigation on the state's part," Morefield said. "Until the final announcement is made, we'll continue to support Phoenix Farms."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Woodstock on track for medical marijuana dispensary; McHenry likely to miss out | Northwest Herald
Author: Jeff Engelhardt
Contact: jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
Photo Credit: Terrafemina
Website: Local News and Video for McHenry County, Illinois | Northwest Herald
Gov. Bruce Rauner approved 52 dispensary licenses and 18 cultivation center licenses for medical marijuana this week, leaving four cultivation centers and eight dispensaries to be decided, including those that would serve McHenry County residents.
Because of population size, McHenry County will receive only one of the 60 eligible dispensaries and it appears that business will be located in Woodstock. City Council members approved zoning for a dispensary in the fall and the state recently approved the business to complete the registration process.
While the business – Ultimate Treatments Ltd. – did not receive full licensure yet, it is also not on the "further review" list that has slowed the process for five potential Illinois dispensaries. Cort Carlson, community and economic development director for Woodstock, said city officials are continuing under the assumption the business will come to the community.
"The whole process sort of changed with the administration change in Springfield, and it has been slower than anticipated," Carlson said. "But from our operations, they are ready to go whenever the state gives them permission."
The dispensary, if approved as expected, would be at 2300-2312 S. Eastwood Drive and serve 10 to 12 people per day, according to developer estimates.
With Woodstock poised to reap some benefits of an estimated $36 million market for Illinois in 2016, McHenry appears to have lost out on a cultivation center that would have brought even greater economic incentives.
The proposed 44,000-square-foot building to have been operated by Phoenix Farms LLC would have made 10 years of payments to McHenry and contributions to McHenry Riverwalk Foundation and Historic Petersen Farm Foundation had it come to the city.
But because only one cultivation center can operate within a state police district, there was heavy competition in the five-county area that included McHenry, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb and Lake. Curative Health LLC is the pending choice to open a center near Aurora in Kane County, but the proposed center is on the "further review" list and could lose the spot.
McHenry administrator Derik Morefield said officials will hold out hope until the decision is final.
"As far as we understand it, the District 2 announcement has not yet been confirmed and there is supposedly an investigation on the state's part," Morefield said. "Until the final announcement is made, we'll continue to support Phoenix Farms."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Woodstock on track for medical marijuana dispensary; McHenry likely to miss out | Northwest Herald
Author: Jeff Engelhardt
Contact: jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
Photo Credit: Terrafemina
Website: Local News and Video for McHenry County, Illinois | Northwest Herald
