Mount Prospect dispensary may move out without quick decision on recreational pot sales
Mount Prospect's plan to give voters a say on allowing recreational marijuana sales may not be enough to keep the village's only dispensary in town, a company representative told officials Tuesday.
Mark de Souza, CEO of Revolution Global, said the company is disappointed with the village board's decision to place an advisory referendum on November's ballot asking whether Mount Prospect should reverse its ban on recreational pot sales.
The company, which owns the New Age Care dispensary at 2015 E. Euclid Ave., doesn't want to wait for a decision and has been in talks with nearby communities, including Des Plaines, where it could sell marijuana to recreational users, he said.
"I'd love to continue to be a business partner with the community, but we have only a matter of months to make this decision," de Souza said.
While discussions about reversing the village's ban are ongoing, some trustees have said they want to wait until after voters weigh in through the Nov. 3 referendum before deciding.
With the delay, "we're losing $1 million a month by staying here," de Souza said.
"We would be adding another $1 million a year in tax revenue," he added. "I assume that is somewhat important to the city."
If New Age Care stays in Mount Prospect, de Souza said, the company hopes to work with the village to find a more suitable location.
Mayor Arlene Juracek said the village board will meet the night after the election to discuss the results.
"I'm also aware of the shortcomings of your current location and I know that our community development department and staff are more than willing and eager to work with you to see if we can come up with an alternative location," she said.