Hanover Park might relax rules on medical marijuana

Reversing an earlier plan, Hanover Park officials want to allow drive-throughs and the sale of drug paraphernalia in medical marijuana shops.

Despite the opposition of Police Chief David Webb, village trustees informally agreed that medical marijuana dispensaries can sell the paraphernalia to bring convenience to qualified patients.

Trustee Jenni Konstanzer said the dispensaries should be a full-service, one-stop shop, instead of forcing patients with serious illnesses to drive outside Hanover Park to buy the products.

Trustee Bill Cannon asked the board Thursday night to revisit an earlier proposal that would have banned the items.

"I understand why we want to be restrictive and conservative," Cannon said. "This is something new. … However, if you really think about it ... and consider who we're affecting, ultimately we're just being mean to the people that need our assistance the most."

But Webb cautioned against an unlimited sale of paraphernalia, arguing devices could end up in the hands of kids or illegal drug users.

In response, trustees also want to restrict how much of the products dispensaries can sell. The measure, along with other proposed rules for the shops, would become official after a board vote May 15.

Under state law - effective in January - patients with certain illnesses like cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis can buy medical marijuana in limited amounts from dispensaries.

Illinois allows 22 medical marijuana cultivators, or one in each state police district, and 60 sellers.

Last August, Hanover Park adopted a six-month moratorium and renewed it again in January while state officials iron out the four-year pilot program. The village should lift the temporary ban in late June.