Marijuana Lounge In Darien?

DARIEN, IL – A marijuana dispensary planned for Darien is not permitted to have a consumption lounge, the city said Wednesday.

This was in response to a question from Brian Liedtke, a member of the Center Cass School District 66 board.

Liedtke said he supported a marijuana dispensary in Darien, but had questions about it.

In late spring, High Haven is set to open in the Darien Plaza at 8131 Cass Ave. Its chief executive, Mahja Sulemanjee-Bortocek, has secured five dispensary licenses, according to a city news release.

In his email to the city, Liedtke noted a Crain's Chicago story from last fall that quoted Sulemanjee-Bortocek as wanting dispensaries and consumption lounges side by side.

"It’s up to what the municipality and the state (on) what they’ll allow us to do," she told Crain's.

In an email to Patch on Thursday, Sulemanjee-Bortocek said, "We are interested in consumption on site as a phase 2 of our projects. Due to the current economic landscape and state restrictions on timeline, we'll be opening as a retail site only. We will likely pursue consumption on-site in the future if the city is supportive."

Under the city code, no lounges or other methods of on-site consumption of marijuana are allowed within a dispensary or smoke shop.

In his email, Liedtke was positive about a dispensary.

"I wanted to congratulate the city on attracting a dispensary business, as this will be a significant tax revenue stream for the city," Liedtke said. "It's also part of, what I hope to see, a larger plan focused on becoming more progressive and the city evolving for the future of Darien."

At the same time, Liedtke, a former Darien planning and zoning commissioner, said the city should work with High Haven to find a site that complies with city code, suggesting that Darien Plaza is not such a location.

In the city's response, Jordan Yanke, the city's senior planner, said the dispensary is allowed at the Darien Plaza by right under the code.