New recreational marijuana dispensary opens in Mount Prospect

A new recreational marijuana dispensary - Enlightened Cannabis for People - opened this week in Mount Prospect.

Village officials were among those attending the opening of the dispensary at 2015 E. Euclid Ave. Thursday.

The facility is operated by Revolution Global, which had been maintaining a medical dispensary in an adjacent space for the past six years.

It's been a long trip to the opening for Revolution Global, with the village taking a 180-degree turn in its stance toward recreational marijuana. After initially opting out, the village responded to a referendum showing resident support by not only approving the use but allowing Revolution Global to bypass zoning approval and granting Revolution Global permission to operate.

Marijuana sales have benefited local communities, and Mount Prospect is expected to share in that success.

Victoria Mendicino, Revolution Global's vice president of communications and government affairs, said, "It's definitely been impressive to watch how the program has grown in such a small amount of time."

Mendicino said Revolution Global takes a community-focused approach. She noted that Enlightened belongs to the chamber of commerce, has participated in events with the local business community and has donated proceeds of sales to Mount Prospect's COVID-19 fund.

"They were already here with medical cannabis and helping our residents in that aspect," said Mount Prospect Trustee Augie Filippone. "They have expanded now. They have done it diligently, they have done it respectfully. They have been solid community members throughout."

"They're a community investor for Mount Prospect," said Teresa VanOpdorp, director of business development for the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce. "They have helped our small businesses this year came back to life during COVID."

Sean Molina, vice president of finance and strategy and head of retail for Revolution Global, said the medical portion, 2,700 square feet, and the adult section, 1,300 square feet, are separated.

"We really wanted to ensure that the medical community and the medical patients would maintain the unique experience and the private experience that they had become accustomed to. In bringing on the adult use side, we wanted to have it as a separate yet common theme."

The Enlightened brand has seven locations, including two in Chicago, one Schaumburg, one in Arkansas and one in Maryland.