Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2014
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5QwXAJWY
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Becky Schlikerman

BURKE: STATE RULES ON SITES FOR POT 'IMPOSSIBLE' TO FOLLOW

The city is caught in a Catch-22 when it comes to medical marijuana 
dispensaries, Ald. Ed Burke (14th) has told state officials in a 
letter obtained by the Chicago SunTimes.

On the one hand, the state has said dispensaries can't be located in 
residential areas and they have to be 1,000 feet away from a school 
or day care center.

But in proposed rules unveiled earlier this month, the state has said 
it would allow up to 13 dispensaries located all around the city to 
be sure patients can easily fill their marijuana prescriptions.

"The legislature passed a law that makes it impossible to site these 
dispensaries within a certain number of feet of certain zoning 
districts and the planning department has prepared a map which seems 
to indicate almost all of the city of Chicago is ineligible under 
state law for locating these dispensaries," Burke told the Chicago 
Sun-Times on Wednesday.

The alderman, perturbed by the preliminary rules, said last week that 
the state didn't consult city officials about the rules, which 
dictate the number of dispensaries that should be allocated to 
particular areas of the city.

In a letter to Manuel Flores, the acting secretary of the Illinois 
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and a former 
alderman, Burke said it would be "impossible" for the city to comply.

"Specifically, the [legislation], and the proposed regulations 
mandate distribution requirements . . . which conflict with each 
other," Burke wrote.

In a memo to the City Council, Burke said except for O'Hare 
International Airport, "there is virtually no real estate north of 
Chicago Avenue that is not limited to residential zoning or is not 
within 1,000 feet of protected institutions."

Flores will review the letter and respond to Burke, a spokeswoman said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom