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Read the press release here.

Pot Clinic Owner Discusses Jobs with Chatham Business Leaders

 CEO Lester Hollis of Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine met with Chatham business owners on Tuesday.
CEO Lester Hollis of Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine met with Chatham business owners on Tuesday.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

CHATHAM — The owner of a California-based marijuana dispensary told Chatham business owners Tuesday that opening on the South Side would benefit the community because it would bring jobs and help the sick.

CEO Lester Hollis of Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine has his eye on what was once a Social Security building at 1111 E. 87th St.. Hollis said that his team will go before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals next month.

Hollis met with Chatham Business Association members at their monthly meeting Tuesday at their office at 806 E. 78th St. Hollis and Andrew DeAngelo, director of operations with Harborside Health Center in Oakland, Calif. presented their plan.

The proposed dispensary would bring jobs to the community, Hollis said, explaining there would be opportunities for local residents in up to 20 areas such as electrical, flooring, plumbing, accounting and legal.

 Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) met with Chatham Business Association members on Tuesday to discuss the proposed medical marijuana dispensary.
Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) met with Chatham Business Association members on Tuesday to discuss the proposed medical marijuana dispensary.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

The clinic would also need a number of other employees, with an average hourly wage of $19.39 plus health insurance. The clinic would also offer a 401k plan, commuter benefits, paid vacation and sick time, training and education that includes professional development.

Melinda Kelly, executive director of the business association, said she invited Illinois Grown Medicine to meet with her group because she wanted members to see the economic development opportunities from the clinic. She said she’s identified at least 30 potential third-party business partners for the clinic.

“When you think about who this dispensary will serve, they will actually look a lot like us at this table,” Kelly said as she gestured toward the table where Harborside representatives and Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) were seated.

Hollis said his company chose the Calumet Heights location because it wanted to help the community.

Hollis said the dispensary would have at lease 10 job openings in the beginning, gradually increasing to about 20-30 in the next couple of years. The Oakland location has more than 150 full-time employees.

At a community meeting last month, a local Chatham group shared its opposition to the dispensary. Both Harris and Hollis were invited, but didn’t attend.

Jerry Brown, a member of the 8th Ward Accountability Coalition, said his group has several concerns about the dispensary, including questions about the owners. In 2001, DeAngelo's brother Steven pleaded guilty to felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to FOX 32 News.

On Tuesday, Andrew DeAngelo defended his brother, saying he has paid his dues and that people should shift their focus from his brother’s mistake to the real issue — those who are sick.

“Steve is not involved in this project whatsoever,” he said. “This is my project, and while he is my older brother, we can all appreciate that sometimes our family members make mistakes, and sometimes [they] stray. What we have to do as a family is help heal those family members and help them go on the straight and narrow again.”

He said the focus should be on the prospective patients this will serve.

“There are people and families suffering, and there are people and families dying,” DeAngelo said. “What are we going to do, let them die because something that happened [14] years ago to somebody who has nothing to do with the organization or the program? I mean, really?

 Proposed medial marijuana dispensary in Chatham
Proposed medial marijuana dispensary in Chatham
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Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine

"I think we need to find a higher aspect of our humanity that we can call onto, and realize that if you’re dealing with somebody with Alzheimer's, or HIV or a veteran with PTSD, we have to have compassion.”

The proposed clinic would have strict rules, the company officials said:

• Patients must be diagnosed with one of several approved debilitating conditions.

• They must be recommended by a doctor with an established relationship.

• They must pass a background check.

• They must have their fingerprints entered into the FBI database.

• They must give up their right to own a gun.

• They can’t use the marijuana at the facility.

• They can’t sell or transfer it to anyone.

Hollis said loitering wouldn't be an issue, nor will increase crime because of heavy security and safety measures.

Harris said she wasn’t able to attend last month’s community meeting because of a funeral.

“I have a history of listening to my community,” she said. “You can’t stay and continue to be an elected official when you do the exact opposite of what your community wants."

Harris held a community meeting on the dispensary Tuesday night at Olive Harvey College, 1001 S. Woodlawn Ave.

“I don’t want people to think the city council snuck it in in the middle of the night,” she said.

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