Craft Marijuana Dispensary Coming To Cary

CARY, IL — A new marijuana dispensary that will be focused on mixing cannibis products in-house plans to open this summer in Cary.

The business, which received approval from the village of Cary last summer, recently came back to the village board to request updates and amendments to its conditional use permit due to updated requirements issued by the state of Illinois. Vertical Management LLC is managing the property.

Patrick Smith, counsel for Vertical Management, said the dispensary will offer a unique, new experience since a substantial portion of their products will be made fresh and in small batches by employees at the dispensary.

"They are not buying pre-packaged products shipped in from across the country like you may see at other dispensaries," Smith said. "That is a real distinction that is new to the region."

"Because they are doing that, because they are sourcing materials themselves and bringing them to the site and brining it on site to make the small batches themselves, they are required to carry a transport license as well as their dispensary license. Because it's their vehicle, it's their employees doing the work," Smith said.

During the state licensing process, officials told Vertical Management they would need to build a secure, enclosed garage on the property in order to transport the marijuana materials. The addition at the property at 20 Northwest Highway meant the business needed approval from the village to proceed.

This past week, the Cary village board voted 6-0 in favor of eliminating buffer yard requirements along the south side of the property line and to reduce the rear yard setback from 10 feet to 0 feet to make way for construction of the garage, according to village officials.

Meanwhile, renovations have been underway on the building, and the dispensary is expected to open this summer, said Brian Simmons, community development director for the village of Cary.

Currently there are two marijuana dispensaries in McHenry County, including RISE Dispensary along Randall Road in Lake in the Hills and Ivy Hall in Crystal Lake. EarthMed is planning to opena new dispensary in McHenry by the end of the summer, according to the Northwest Herald.