Looking on the bright side
Friday, Sep 13, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Highwood is, um, living up to its name…
The state of Illinois will commence the sale of cannabis on January 1, 2020 and the City of Highwood is working to be proactive in the early implementation. […]
“Highwood’s innovative entertainment district is thriving and this newly legal industry is an opportunity to continue retail growth. Being an early adopter would have advantages including identifying the best business partner for the community and giving Highwood early market share,” says Scott Coren, Highwood City Manager. “We look forward to welcoming a business to Highwood that is equally invested in this opportunity.”
* This will be a relatively short drive from my house…
While Springfield city leaders debate whether or not to allow recreational marijuana sales and cultivation within city limits, the capital city’s lone medical marijuana dispensary is closing in on a second location for recreational pot sales on the city’s East Side.
Chris Stone, the founder and CEO of HCI Alternatives, confirmed Thursday that the company is “in the final negotiations” to lease the former Outback Steakhouse, 3201 Horizon Drive, nestled between Dirksen Parkway and Interstate 55 near the Crowne Plaza. […]
Stone said the site, which has been vacant since the Australian-themed restaurant relocated last year to the city’s West Side, offered the company several advantages: easy highway access, a strong transient customer base with its proximity to several major hotels and an opportunity to provide jobs to an economically struggling side of town.
* I’m betting there will be a long line…
Canton’s medical marijuana dispensary, which is one of the first businesses in the state to receive both state and city approval to sell recreational marijuana, will start selling to all adults first thing on New Year’s Day.
Scott Miller of Salveo Health & Wellness Dispensary said Salveo will be ready to sell recreational marijuana at 7 a.m. Jan. 1, the day it will become legal in Illinois.
He said Salveo is being expanded into a 4,000-square-foot facility that will feature state of the art technology.
* Elgin…
The Elgin City Council had its first discussion about whether to allow recreational marijuana sales in town, and a majority of members said they are inclined to say “yes.”
City staff members will draft ordinance proposals addressing zoning, regulations and taxes regarding the sale of marijuana. The process will entail a public hearing before the planning and zoning commission and a final vote by the city council. […]
Councilman Terry Gavin said he read a lot about marijuana legalization across the country, in addition to the extensive research done by city staff members, and agreed that allowing marijuana shops is reasonable.
“We’ve been fighting this war on drugs for decades. It’s not working very well,” he said.
* Tribune…
The new cannabis course at Oakton Community College is far from the blow-off class one might imagine. Students don’t touch marijuana inside the classroom in Des Plaines. No one grows a plant, rolls a joint or smokes a bong. Instead, they learn about molecular biology, drug laws and treating terminal illness. […]
Students who complete the seven-course curriculum will be trained as cannabis dispensary and patient care specialists, designed to qualify them to work in either medical or recreational settings. Of the first 100 students taking the course, about 20 hope to complete it this semester, in time to start working in the field when commercial marijuana sales become legal under state law in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020. […]
Budtender jobs average around $14 per hour in Illinois, while a dispensary manager averages around $53,000, according to job site Indeed.com. Reese hopes that hourly workers will become salaried employees as the field expands and professionalizes.
* Related…
* Illinois Women In Cannabis Is Looking For Entrepreneurs
* Green Thumb Industries (GTI) to Open Rise Hermitage, the Seventh Rise™ Cannabis Store in Pennsylvania, on September 19: Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, GTI has 13 manufacturing facilities, licenses for 95 retail locations and operations across 12 U.S. markets
* Marijuana at the airport: That part of your packing list might not fly: The city has plenty of examples to consider when crafting its own policy. At some airports, police won’t interfere as long as travelers are of legal age and in compliance with quantity limits. But other airports say even a legally purchased stash doesn’t fly.
* Tight-knit female lawmakers behind legal marijuana have new nickname
* Iroquois County board approves tax on cannabis
- The Real Captain - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 1:31 pm:
Visiting my Inlaws in Canton for New Years … that’s all I want from Christmas.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 1:52 pm:
That’s good news about the second HCI Alternatives site in Springfield. It’s not too far from where I live either.
- depressed in politics - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 1:55 pm:
With Highwood’s prohibition history, it is little wonder that it would embrace this new industry. I’m sure its denizens will relish its traditional role as a destination for “fun” in the otherwise staid confines of the North Shore. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highwood,_Illinois
- Steve Polite - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
As I said yesterday, Maribis has a medical dispensary in Grandview (a small township on the northeast side of Springfield). They have applied for a recreational license.
Does anybody know if Grandview has or will opt-out? What happens if Grandview does nothing? Will Maribis then be able to sell recreational cannabis as long as they have the license?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:02 pm:
I never thought I would actually drive to Canton willingly, nevertheless enthusiastically.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
So wonderful to watch the legalization rollout in action. Good luck, Elgin, and good for you, Canton.
Hope Springfield votes yes also. Been down by Dirksen and I-55 a number of times. It would be great to get a dispensary in there.
Great to be finally removing the yoke of Reefer Madness and the regressive attitudes that has kept the failed war on marijuana going for so long.
- Bruce (no not him) - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:21 pm:
I’m hoping for a giant sign, so it is visible from I-55. Just says WEED
- Used to Live there - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
The only reason anyone would ever go to Canton..
- revvedup - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:30 pm:
Interesting as towns try to figure out what the want to do, and how to do it.
The marijuana at the airport is going to be a bit of a mess, especially when the Feds have legal authority, since TSA will notify law enforcement if it is found, with certain exceptions. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/medical-marijuana.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:34 pm:
===since TSA will notify law enforcement if it is found===
And local law enforcement doesn’t enforce federal law. So if it’s legal in the state, the cops can’t do anything.
- Just Observing - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 2:58 pm:
=== And local law enforcement doesn’t enforce federal law. So if it’s legal in the state, the cops can’t do anything. ===
I think it would be more accurate to say if it’s legal in the state, in most cases the cops won’t do anything (except strongly urge you to throw it out). In other early-adopter states, the police can and have cited for marijuana (after being alerted by TSA) but in most cases, especially if you are cooperative, they will just ask you to dispose of the product.
- Just Observing - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 3:02 pm:
=== With Highwood’s prohibition history, it is little wonder that it would embrace this new industry. I’m sure its denizens will relish its traditional role as a destination for “fun” in the otherwise staid confines of the North Shore. ===
1. The Highwood of the 1920s is not the Highwood of 2019.
2. Highwood is a bit different than other North Shore towns.
3. Highwood is known for its bustling “night life” (relative to other suburbs) — nobody is gonna blink an eye at a marijuana dispensary.
- Maryjane - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
re: the airport problem:
If you want to be on the safe side, simply drop off your Cannabis with me before heading to the airport and I will be happy to dispose of it for you no questions asked; ‘gratis.
;-)
- Leatherneck - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
“We look forward to welcoming a business to Highwood that is equally invested in this opportunity.”
——-
Will Scott Drury be at the grand opening?
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 3:13 pm:
my friends who lived there called it Highweed.
- Leatherneck - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 3:19 pm:
- Steve Polite - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
As I said yesterday, Maribis has a medical dispensary in Grandview (a small township on the northeast side of Springfield). They have applied for a recreational license.
———–
Not to nitpick but Grandview is one of the “donut hole” municipalities surrounded by the Springfield city limits (others include Leland Grove, Jerome and Southern View).
Also, Chatham took a preliminary vote of 6-2 against cannibals sales within village limits when their Village Trustees met last Tuesday night. An official vote will take place at the Sept. 24 meeting.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Sep 13, 19 @ 4:17 pm:
Leatherneck, with respect, I know Grandview is surrounded by Springfield, but it’s not relevant to this discussion.