A pair of companies with initial Illinois cannabis dispensing licenses hope to operate in Wadsworth within a few miles of the Wisconsin state line where no marijuana products can be sold but only one of them may get the final OK from the state.
Both Nature’s Grace and Wellness as well as Midwest G Holdings are currently trying to obtain final approval to operate cannabis shops near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Illinois Route 173 in Wadsworth to take advantage of the Wisconsin market.
Wadsworth Village Administrator Pat DiPersio said Nature’s Grace was awarded a conditional use permit on March 18 to operate a dispensary as one of the stores in a strip shopping center at 41509 U.S. Highway 41.
Before Nature’s Grace can open, DiPersio said it must receive a building permit to renovate a space and both an occupancy permit as well as a business license from the village to operate.
DiPersio said Midwest G Holdings (Goodies) is in the process of applying for a conditional use permit. It must have a public hearing before the Plan Commission & Zoning Board of Appeals before it can go to the Village Board of Trustees for a conditional use permit.
Anthony Pena, a managing member of Goodies, said his company needs to provide the village with a few more details to complete its application. He said the company hopes to operate the dispensary at 16111 Illinois Route 173.
Though two dispensaries can operate in Wadsworth, they must be at least 1,500 feet apart, according to Illinois law, though there are some exceptions depending on the timing of the issuance of the license and conditions under which it was granted.
Chris Slaby, the public information officer for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said in an email Wednesday that once an applicant receives a conditional license — both Goodies and Nature’s Grace have — a full license is necessary to sell cannabis products. That comes after the village issues the occupancy permit.
Nature’s Grace must give the village a security plan and get approval from the Newport Fire Protection District among other conditions, according to the conditional use permit.
Pena said Goodies plans to operate an 11,000-square-foot dispensary with a 7,000-square-foot showroom. He has access to 15 acres which he plans to use to offer events to the public. He believes the proximity to Wisconsin will draw a large number of customers.
“I want to make this a destination where people want to come,” Pena said. “There’s no question we’re going after business in Wisconsin.”
Currently, the closest dispensaries to Wisconsin are Planet 13 and Ivy Hall in Waukegan.
Attempts to reach representatives of Nature’s Grace were not successful.
