Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jun 2013
Source: Northwest Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2013 Northwest Herald Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nwherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2762
Author: Stephen Di Benedetto

HUNTLEY RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL FOR MARIJUANA CULTIVATION

HUNTLEY - A Batavia resident wants to turn Huntley into one of the
state's first destinations that would support marijuana cultivation --
if the illicit drug ultimately becomes legal for medical use in Illinois.

Samuel Franzmann approached Huntley Village Board members during a
committee meeting Thursday with the proposition of building a
cultivation center that would mass produce marijuana for "sick and
dying individuals" to have a better quality of life.

Franzmann told members that he is looking for villages and cities
around the Chicago area interested in housing one of the few
cultivation centers that would be allowable under a bill awaiting Gov.
Pat Quinn's signature that would legalize medical marijuana.

"I want to make sure that I get my foot in the door and start talking
to people to make them realize that I'm not some crook or drug lord
trying to encroach on small town Huntley," Franzmann said.

Franzmann introduced himself to the board as a business owner with
small business experience. He later said he works for Hinsdale
Orthopedic doing information technology work.

Local governments are allowed to devise individualized zoning
regulations that would govern any potential marijuana cultivation
center, under the medical marijuana bill that cleared both houses in
Springfield earlier this spring.

The bill allows people with debilitating conditions to receive 2.5
grams of marijuana every two weeks with a doctor's prescription. It
would create 22 cultivation centers scattered throughout the state
that would supply marijuana to 60 dispensaries.

Quinn has not indicated whether he would sign it.

Franzmann's proposition surprised many Huntley officials who are more
accustomed to meeting with housing and restaurant developers privately
before publicly revealing economic development plans.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said staff has been reviewing the
legislation to figure out the proper ways to structure zoning
regulations for medical marijuana growers. But he was uncertain
whether the village would want to work with Franzmann and bring a
center to Huntley.

"Certainly, it isn't anything that we have sat around and thought
about attracting to our community," Johnson said.

A person interested in developing a cultivation center would have to
apply for a license with Illinois agriculture department.

The department has already started to receive calls from interested
cultivators, even though medical marijuana is not yet legal in the
state, a department spokesperson said.

On Thursday, village trustees offered no reaction to Franzmann's
unconventional proposal, with the exception of Trustee Niko Kanakaris.

"Did you bring any samples?" Kanakaris said to laughter from the other
trustees.
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MAP posted-by: Matt