Governor’s decision on medical marijuana dispensaries leaves unanswered questions for Jefferson Township

by BRIAN NADIG

Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration on Monday announced a partial list of businesses which it has chosen to receive a medical marijuana dispensary license, but that list leaves several unanswered questions for Jefferson Township.

Rauner has chosen Union Group of Illinois LLC to receive one of the two dispensary licenses for the township, but a decision has not been made on the second license. The township includes all of the Northwest Side and extends as far south as North Avenue and far east as Western Avenue.

Union Group reportedly has not chosen a location for its dispensary, and it will have to obtain a special use permit from the city Zoning Board of Appeals before it can open. There are several dispensary applicants for the 45th Ward, but Union Group has not contacted Alderman John Arena’s office about opening a location in the ward, according to an Arena aide.

One of the companies remaining eligible for the second dispensary license in the township is Curative Health LLC, which wants to open at 4758 N. Milwaukee Ave., but approval of its license application is pending further review. The zoning board issued a special use to Curative Health last year.