Alderman Will Not Support Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ahead Of Zoning Vote
By Rachel Cromidas in News on May 29, 2015 3:45PM
A proposal to put a medical marijuana clinic in Norwood Park is heading to the city council this week but the local alderman is balking.
Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) told a DNAinfo reporter that his community has not had enough time to consider the proposal, which would place a Union Group of Illinois dispensary in a vacant storefront at 6428-30 N. Milwaukee Ave. He said there had only been one community meeting held regarding the proposal, and that most of the residents who attended that meeting opposed the plan.
The city's Zoning Board is scheduled to hear the proposal Friday afternoon and Napolitano said he wants the board to delay their vote.
Union Group of Illinois is one of two medical marijuana companies that have been approved by the state to operate in Jefferson Township on the Far Northwest Side. The dispensary would be required to use a video surveillance system and hire armed guards to monitor the 21,500 square-foot around the clock. It would also be steps away from the drive-through hot dog joint Superdawg, which as we pointed out earlier this year might be a possible ideal neighbor.
Union Group of Illinois representatives say they expect the dispensary to generate $1.6 million in profit in its first year alone and they would donate 4 percent of that to local community groups.