Local Physician Urges Adoption of Zoning Amendment

Submitted by Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD

Highland Park has an opportunity to be at the forefront of bringing relief to people in our community suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions. In 2013, Illinois approved medical cannabis for treating 38 specific diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cancer and multiple sclerosis. In October, the Highland Park Plan Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt zoning regulations to allow for a medical marijuana dispensary. The Council had planned to discuss the change December 1, but officials deferred discussion until 2015. Illinois is currently reviewing applications and is scheduled to issue licenses this month. If the Council does not begin its discussion of the zoning recommendation in December, the State is likely to reject a Highland Park dispensary. This would force many of my patients who live in this area to travel further to get their medicine, and they have enough problems to deal with as it is.

If you support helping people in our community suffering from debilitating diseases, please contact Mayor Rotering and City Council members and ask them to consider the zoning amendment at its December 15 meeting.

Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD is a family physician in Highland Park.