My How Times Have Changed

Mila K. Marshall, PhD CNW Cannabis Corner Editor

Achampion advocate. A brilliant businesswoman. A force of change. Edie Moore founder of Chicago NORML shares the difference between opening a dispensary in 2015 and 2023 are like night and day. Moore is in the process of opening three locations all in Cook County (BLS Region 5) and one dispensary for certain to be located in the city of Chicago. When asked about the challenges of securing a retail location Moore responded, “I’ve done this before. I did this in 2015 at the beginning of cannabis. I’m very familiar with what will pass zoning.”

Moore is well aware of the challenges retail operators face with state legislation requirements to be in compliance. She shares her process for site selection beginning with the community demographics. “Is it a NIMBY community, full of progressive people? Is there parking? How close is it to an existing dispensary? Is it close to a church?”

While churches don’t require a particular distance, the proximity to churches may become a point of tension further down the line. “While churches aren’t in the law it may matter to those people who attend that church,” shared Moore.

When asked if communities sought out dispensaries for their community Moore lifted up that suburbs of Cook County are excited about tax dollars but they too have ways of pigeonholing cannabis operators to