Gov. Rauner Awards Medical Marijuana Licenses to Oak Park Company

By Tim Moran (Patch Staff)

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner awarded medical marijuana licenses to 18 companies for 52 retail shops across the state on Monday, including Oak Park company Pharmacann, LLC.

The 1-year-old company was awarded multiple licenses and granted opportunities to open dispensaries in Evanston, Ottawa, West Aurora and Schaumburg, and it was given the green light to open a cultivation site in Dwight.

According to Bloomberg Business, Pharmacann, LLC was incorporated in Oak Park in 2014 and “develops medical marijuana retail centers.”

Teddy Scott, CEO of Pharmacann, LLC, confirmed plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary inside an Evanston parking garage after being awarded the only license available in District 34.

“Hats off to Governor Rauner for getting this done in such short time,” Scott said, noting that the general assumption was that former Gov. Pat Quinn was going to award the licenses before the end of his term. “I doubt this was one of the first things on his plate, but I can’t say enough of the speed and level of detail his team put together in getting this done to help the patients.”

More than 20 companies had sought the sole available license in District 34, which covers some or all of Evanston, Skokie, Niles and Morton Grove. Scott called it one of the most competitive “if not the most competitive” license in the state.

After an Evanston City Council committee approved its usage, the agreed upon spot for the District was a spot in the parking garage at 1800 Maple Ave., a location which had been vacant for years.

“Our next step would be negotiating a lease with the city,” said Scott, who plans to name the business “Pharmacannis.”

Scott says when the business does open, it will be “discreet” and “professional.”

“This won’t be anything like a head shop or associated with one in any way,” Scott said. “This will be for critically ill people who have been denied this type of medicine.”

A potential logo for the business, Scott added, would be “tasteful.”