Medical marijuana could soon be for sale in Elmwood Park, with a dispensary in the process of building out a space on Grand Avenue to sell the drug to people with prescriptions.
Jared Boyar, agent in charge of the project for Floramedex, headquartered in Harwood Heights, said construction is already underway to make the location at 7955 W. Grand Ave. into a medical marijuana dispensary. Building permits have been issued for the work.
Earlier this year, Floramedex was announced by Bruce Rauner’s office as the winner of the only permit to sell marijuana in Leyden Township, Proviso Township or Norwood Park Township. But the exact location of the dispensary wasn’t unveiled at that time.
Terry Horstman, spokesman for Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said due to confidentiality stipulations, he could not say if Floramedex has filed an application with the state to set up or where they are in the application process if they did.
Horstman did say there are currently nine active dispensary licenses in the state, and he anticipates around 25 dispensaries to be registered by the end of the year.
Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano said he’s looked at the building plans and the layout is for a marijuana dispensary. When Saviano was a state legislator, he said he worked on legislation to legalize marijuana in some form.
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Boyar said Floramedex plans to spend about $1.5 million to complete the site; he said the dispensary is planned to open in January or February, depending on when the state approves their application.
A statement from Boyar gave a description of what the site will look like on the inside.
“Our location will have a loft/Restoration Hardware look and feel to it, with ample space to accommodate our clients who may be waiting for a consultation,” Boyar wrote. “We will also have designated parking for our clientele.”
He also described, in general, the services the dispensary plans to provide and how they would monitor their business.
“We will offer alternative medicine to clients that qualify for medical cannabis under the state law. We have daily inventory control policies in place,” Boyar wrote. “Bogus [prescriptions] will not exist, because all qualified patients will have a state-issued license to purchase their medicine. Furthermore, a patient cannot enter the building without possessing a valid ID card that will be run through a state scanning process to verify that they are eligible to purchase product from us at that time.”
This would be the company’s first dispensary location; Boyar said they plan to employ about 10 people once open. Anyone applying will need to pass an FBI background check.
When questioned about what makes their business legitimate, in light of marijuana use being illegal in the past, Boyar believes the company is just taking advantage of the changes that are taking place across the country in terms of legalizing marijuana.
“What makes this business legitimate in our eyes is that there is empirical evidence to support medical cannabis helping those who are suffering,” Boyar wrote. “Our ownership group is comprised of medical health professionals, including a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, nursing home and hospice operators. Each and every owner believes in helping those who are sick or in pain find relief.”
Saviano wishes his father, who had lung cancer, would’ve been able to take advantage of the drug when he was alive and going through treatment — perhaps by taking medical marijuana in pill form.
“My father had cancer and I believe his quality of life would have been enhanced with medical marijuana,” Saviano said. “There are a lot of people who can benefit from this.”
But Saviano said that he, along with the Village Board, will scrutinize the new business’ intentions when they apply for a business license.
“That will give me the opportunity to have a conversation,” Saviano said.
Meanwhile, Saviano said he’ll be working with the board to come up with ways to get tax revenue for the village the dispensary.
Along with meeting with the village officials, Floramedex officials plan to reach out to the community to let them know what they are all about “in the coming weeks.”
When business owners and residents around the Grand Avenue site were asked about the dispensary, not many spoke out against it.
Daryl Ransom, who with his brother owns D&R Press at 7959 W. Grand Ave., will be taking a “wait and see” attitude to his new neighbor.
“I don’t know what to think,” Ransom said. “There’s nothing to compare it to. If it’s for medical purposes, then why not? If it were for recreational purposes, then I would object.”
Frankie Lopez, 18, has been living in the neighborhood around the dispensary for two years. She has no problem with the dispensary opening, as long as it’s for the right reason.
“If people really need it, I think that’s fine,” Lopez said. “I know it helps a lot of people.”
Doug Simmons, personal trainer and owner of The Work’d Out Studio at 8009 W. Grand Ave., River Grove, said he welcomes the new business. Prior to becoming a personal trainer, he competed in mixed martial arts competition and was a semi-professional wrestler.
He believes medical marijuana would be a better alternative to what he’s seen some athletes use to deal with injuries.
“I’m all for it,” Simmons said. “It’s a better alternative to prescription pain pills. Some people I knew in professional wrestling were addicted to pain pills.”
He said some would do illegal things to get the pills.
“I don’t see anyone doing anything bad after smoking a joint,” he said. “I think people will be surprised who smokes marijuana these days.”
Saro Caccamo, 78, who lives on the 2500 block of Woodfield Drive, had heard rumors about the dispensary and believes the site should be in a different location.
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“I think it’s too close to this residential area,” Caccamo said.
He’s concerned with the possible negative attention the dispensary will bring, but is willing to see what happens.
“I guess I will have to give it a chance and hopefully it will not be a problem,” he said.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard