Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2014 Source: Lake Forester (IL) Copyright: 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/II1hffnC Website: http://lakeforest.suntimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5328 LAKE BLUFF TIGHTENS MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY RESTRICTIONS Medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in Lake Bluff's light-industrial district under tighter local restrictions. As expected, the Village Board voted unanimously on Monday, May 12, to grant final approval to include "medical cannabis dispensary" as a special use in the village's light industrial district - but layered in tighter restrictions on signage, surveillance and hours of operation. The village's light industrial area lies on the west side of town. When, and if, purveyors will look to Lake Bluff to open a shop is anyone's guess. "No one has inquired about setting up a dispensary in Lake Bluff," Assistant to the Village Manager Brandon Stanick said Thursday, May 15. Village President Kathy O'Hara described the likelihood of a medical marijuana dispensary opening in Lake Bluff as "very slim." Only three dispensaries will be allowed in Lake County out of 60 in the state, officials said. Without the Village Board's action, the "less restrictive" state statute on medical marijuana dispensaries would apply, Village Attorney Peter Friedman said. The state statute also requires that medical cannabis dispensaries be allowed only in single-occupancy buildings. The majority of the buildings in Lake Bluff's light-industrial area are multi-occupant, officials said. Cultivation centers are not permitted in the village due to the close proximity of day care centers, schools and residential uses. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt