Pubdate: Fri, 07 Feb 2014
Source: Beacon-News, The (Aurora, IL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact:  http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3800
Author: Steve Lord

YORKVILLE TO DISCUSS RULES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES

YORKVILLE  Marijuana is not on the verge of becoming one of Kendall
County's cash crops.

But the mere fact that it's now legal of medicinal use has officials
here looking at how to handle a potential request for medical
marijuana cultivation and dispensaries.

The Yorkville Plan Commission, at its regular meeting at 7 p.m.
Wednesday in the conference room at City Hall, 800 Game Farm Road,
will consider making such a request a special use for either type of
facility in the city.

The commission will discuss making a text amendment to the zoning
ordinance that would require those as special uses, and only in the
M-1 Manufacturing District.

Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble said the
discussion is pre-emptive so the city "has something on the books" if
a request for either a cultivation facility or dispensary came to the
city. She said no such request has come in at this time.

Kendall County is considering doing the same thing, according to Brian
Holdiman, code official for Kendall County's Planning, Building and
Zoning Department.

He said the county also has had no requests, but Senior Planner Angelo
Zubko recently brought up the possibility of Kendall County discussing
a similarly pre-emptive change in the county's zoning ordinance.

"We would probably look at it," Holdiman said.

Medical marijuana became legal in Illinois at the beginning of the
year, and state and local officials have been scrambling on how to
deal with the new facilities when they start to come in.

About three weeks ago, the Illinois Department of Public Health
unveiled proposed rules for how medical marijuana will be regulated in
Illinois. Right now, it is considered a pilot program and will run for
four years.

Among the proposals is that medical marijuana users would need to pay
a $150 yearly fee to participate in the program. They also would get a
special photo ID, get fingerprinted, undergo a criminal background
check and give up their right to own a gun.

To qualify for medical marijuana, you must be an Illinois resident, at
least 18, with a qualifying medical condition - one of more than 40
conditions including cancer, AIDS and glaucoma - and must have a
signed medical recommendation for the use of medical cannabis.

The state Department of Public Health took public comment on the
proposals through Friday. It will submit recommendations to state
lawmakers by the end of April, then have another public comment period.

Patients probably will not begin applying until September for medical
marijuana.

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and Department
of Agriculture are still working on rules concerning the state's
marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries. Those rules will be
posted online as soon as they are available.

Barksdale-Noble said it is likely that if someone applies to the state
for a marijuana cultivation or dispensary license in Yorkville or
Kendall County, local authorities will know before the applicants come
in.

"We would probably hear from the state first," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D