Heavy traffic expected as North Aurora recreational marijuana dispensary opens its doors

NORTH AURORA – As one of the first recreational marijuana dispensaries in the area gets ready to open its doors at 9 a.m. New Year's Day, North Aurora police are warning motorists there could be heavy traffic near the dispensary for the next few days.

Verilife, located at 161 S. Lincolnway, Suite 301 in North Aurora, already sells medical marijuana and beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday will start selling recreational marijuana. In an email, North Aurora police warn motorists to avoid the area near the dispensary if possible for the next several days because of anticipated heavy traffic.

"Officers will be on the scene helping to manage traffic and the dispensary will have people present to help direct people," the email states.

The dispensary is located on Route 31, just north of Airport Road. According to the police department's Facebook page, all traffic control expenses are being covered by the dispensary and no village funds are being used.

Zen Leaf in St. Charles could become the next dispensary in the area that sells recreational marijuana. Although the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has given Zen Leaf a license to operate a recreational marijuana dispensary, it still has to get approval from the city to sell recreational marijuana at its location at 3714 Illinois Ave. in St. Charles. Zen Leaf is currently the city's only medical marijuana dispensary.

In December, Zen Leaf moved another step closer to being able to sell recreational marijuana along with medical marijuana at its dispensary at 3714 Illinois Ave. Plan commissioners voted 5-4 to recommend to the St. Charles City Council that recreational marijuana dispensaries be added as a special use in the M-2 limited manufacturing district.

They also voted 5-4 to recommend to the City Council that Healthway Services of West Illinois, LLC. – which operates Zen Leaf – be given special use approval to operate a recreational marijuana dispensary at its current location.

The St. Charles City Council's Planning and Development Committee will now discuss the matter at its Jan. 13 meeting. Zen Leaf has been in operation since 2015 at its current location.

Aldermen previously voted 6-3 to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries to locate in the city. As part of the city's rules, two recreational marijuana dispensaries could be located in the city – one on the east side and one on the west side of the Fox River. In addition, one of the dispensaries must have a minimum of one year's experience operating a medical marijuana dispensary in St. Charles. The second dispensary must have a minimum of one year's experience operating a medical marijuana dispensary within the state of Illinois, but not necessarily in St. Charles.

On-premise consumption lounges and all other types of recreational marijuana uses are not permitted.