Mary Hansen
NPR Illinois
A recreational marijuana lounge is coming to downtown Springfield. The City Council on Tuesday granted one of the first permits to open an establishment specifically for the consumption of marijuana. It also allows on-site consumption at the dispensary.
HCI Alternatives, which will soon go by the name Illinois Supply and Provisions, plans to open the lounge next to its current dispensary on Adams Street. It would accommodate an estimated 150 people.
While most aldermen supported the permit, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin raised concerns about the safety of having that many people leaving the lounge at the same time when it closes.
“I’m worried about the change to the character of our downtown and putting at risk our downtown with the activity created by the on-site consumption, and folks getting high and drinking also,” he said.
Chris Stone, a senior advisor to Ascend Illinois – which owns the shop, tried to address the worries.
Stone said the lounge could open in April.
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The state’s recreational marijuana law created an exemption for the cafes to Illinois’ ban on smoking in public, which took effect in 2008. The exemption is modeled after an exemption for cigar lounges.
Meanwhile, Ascend Illinois also plans to open a second dispensary, off Dirksen Parkway at 3201 Horizon Drive, bringing the total number in the Springfield area to three. Stone said they could eventually open a lounge there as well.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 