Local Companies Awarded Licenses to Grow, Sell Medical Marijuana

In a quick turnaround, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday awarded dozens of licenses to companies that will soon be allowed to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois.

The list includes four Will County companies, including Cresco Labs, which has plans for a 37,600-square-foot growing facility in Joliet. The lab will be the designated growing center for Illinois State Police District 5.

In September, the Joliet City Council voted to annex 11.5 acres in unincorporated Will County for the facility, which will be located at 23225 CenterPoint Way.

3C Compassionate Care Center, which is based out of Naperville, was also awarded a license to operate a dispensary in Joliet. The company, whose directors include retired Will County Judge Robert Livas, is slated to dispense medical marijuana out of the Rock Run Business Park.

3C was founded by Livas’ daughter, Traci Fernandez, who was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare spinal disease, and her husband, Hugo Fernandez.

Two other Will County companies, Midwest Compassion Center in Shorewood and Greenhouse Group LLC in Manteno, were also granted licenses to operate dispensaries.

If seeds are planted now, patients could be able to buy medical marijuana by summer, although bureaucracy and construction make that an “optimistic timeline” a marijuana advocacy group rep told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act allows people with illnesses including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and HIV can obtain an ID card that would allow them to purchase small amounts of medical marijuana.

View a full list of companies granted licenses to grow and dispense medical marijuana.

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