Community meeting slated for West Loop cannabis dispensary

Chicago 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. is partnering with the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) to host a community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5 to discuss a proposed cannabis dispensary at 935 W. Randolph St.

The meeting will occur on Catalyst Ranch at 656 W. Randolph St. and starts at 6 p.m. All members of the public are invited to attend.

A representative from the Office of the Mayor will attend to host a Q&A session at the meeting’s start. The city's zoning attorney will then commence a presentation.

An ordinance to amend the Zoning Code for cannabis activities was approved by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Corporation Counsel on Oct. 17, 2019. The ordinance was composed by Lightfoot and sponsored by Ald. Matt O’ Shea of the 19th Ward and Ald. Andre Vasquez Jr. of the 40th Ward.

The zone ordinance requires that all property owners within 250 feet of any proposed dispensary be notified of the proposal before its zoning application.

Any cannabis dispensaries wishing to establish business in Chicago must file an application with the Zoning Board of Appeals. Illinois is required by state law to publicly share online when the zoning board receives new applications.

Chicago’s Cannabis Information Center is an online resource for residents with deep concerns of marijuana usage in the city. It provides information regarding marijuana consumption and possession, public health and safety, the list of all dispensary locations, and frequently asked questions proposed to local government.

The city of Chicago additionally created an online public engagement portal as another resource to utilize. The portal includes a directory to call for complaints, as well as any scheduled community meeting on the topic of cannabis.

The portal also explains how any local registered voter can identify their precinct as a restricted cannabis zone by petitioning their respective alderman to introduce an ordinance.