Four Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to Open in South Suburbs

Norman Parish | As of Thursday, December 10, 2015

A marijuana dispensary is scheduled to open at 1137 W. 175th St. in Homewood, Ill. It is one of four dispensaries expected to open in the next month in the south suburbs.
A marijuana dispensary is scheduled to open at 1137 W. 175th St. in Homewood, Ill. It is one of four dispensaries expected to open in the next month in the south suburbs.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are coming to four Chicago area south suburbs in the next month.

The dispensaries are scheduled to open by January at 1137 W. 175th St. in Homewood; 2535 Veterans Dr. in Posen; 11425 S. Harlem St. in Worth; and 8340 S. Roberts Rd. in Justice, said Steven Weisman, CEO and president of the Windy City Cannabis Club.

The dispensaries are awaiting background checks from Illinois officials on 15 employees who will work at the sites, Weisman said.

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“At first, I got into this because I thought it was a good business opportunity,” Weisman said.

But Weisman said he met some people who would be helped by the medical marijuana and felt it was the right thing to do.

“I love it and I am glad I got into it,” Weisman said.

About 3,600 people have been approved to use medical marijuana in the state, Weisman said.

Medical cannabis has been credited with reducing nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improving appetites of HIV/AIDS patients and helping with chronic pain.

But some residents had “concerns” about the dispensaries but overall have been supportive, Weisman acknowledged.

“The communities were fantastic,” Weisman said. “We want to make sure everyone is comfortable.”

Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said: “I don’t have a problem with it and the majority of the [Homewood Trustees] don’t either.”

During the summer, Homewood Trustees unanimously approved a zoning measure for a marijuana dispensary.

Eventually, about 60 dispensaries might be operating in Illinois.

While dispensaries are going up around the state, some residents have fought their arrival and won.

Last month, Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine, LLC (IGM) withdrew its petition for a planned dispensary in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood after opposition from several residents.

The facility was planned for a site at 1111 E. 87th St.

Some residents complained that the location was too close to a child care facility; others were concerned it could attract crime.

Supporters of the project touted the dispensary as a business that could provide an economic boost to the Chatham area.

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