Big turnout for medical marijuana meeting for prospective growers, sellers and users
August 20, 2014, BY Robert H. Jordan JR
During the infancy stages of the Illinois Medical Cannabis town hall meetings, Michael Mayes brought up critical points for the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to aid in the creation of the program.
The Minutes of the town hall meeting are found here and outlined below. The video shows an interview Michael Mayes conducted about the difficulty for patients to enter the market and the risks associated with it.
MR. MAYES: Hello. My name is Michael Mayes, spelled M A Y E S. I’m with Quantum 9, Inc. We’re a marijuana consulting and technology firm, and I have three questions. The first question is in the rules it requires that an engineer certifies a schematic design via a written statement. Do the actual designs have to be stamped by a local licensed architect?
MR. WATSON: Do you have the citation to the rule — Oh, on the application. And that was under the plans and specifications?
MR. MAYES: It’s in a couple places. It’s required that an engineer certifies the written statement and back the application.
MR. WATSON: And you’re asking if that has to be an Illinois-based engineer?
MR. MAYES: I’m asking if the designs themselves — schematic designs if they have to be stamped by an architect?
MR. WATSON: I’m not sure.
MR. MORGAN: Yeah. I think it’s silent on that issue. I would think maybe blueprints would be, but I believe our rules and application will be silent on that.
MR. MAYES: So, no, it is?
MR. WATSON: It does require a signature from the engineer.
MR. MAYES: All right. If a county doesn’t offer a special use permit for the use of land how will the Department view the absence of a special use permit in applications — in an applicant’s submission?
MR. WATSON: Okay. If I understand the question, it would depend on whether or not there’s zoning in that particular community. On the zoning certification form — or zoning approval form, there is a box for the local government to check if there is no zoning there, so it’s an unzoned area. If that’s the question, then that would be the box to check. If there is zoning and they refuse to grant the special use permit, you’re not going to be able to get that document signed showing the zoning approval, and your application would be denied.
- MR. MAYES: My last question is since there are no approved pest and pathogen sprays approved for cannabis many other countries have adopted agriculture review boards much like our approved illness board. Has the Department of Agriculture considered a review board to add and inspect pest and pathogen eradication, including pesticides, miticides, fungicides for cannabis?
MR. WATSON: Actually in our last go-around with Jaycar we did add a list of pesticides to the rules that would be approved.
MR. MAYES: Is that going to be expanded upon as the program continues?
MR. WATSON: There are — This is a pilot program. There are going to be a lot of aspects to this program that may change as we go along. That would be one in particular that I would expect there may be some changes, but to make that change we’re going 19 to have to go before the judge of administrative rules to add anything to that list. So it’s not going to be an easy process, but, yes, we will — we’re going to be open to change.
MR. MAYES: Thank you.
