Second cannabis craft growing company wins Elgin OK to open an operation on city’s west side

Grand Legacy Group received a warm welcome from the Elgin City Council this week after plans for the company’s new cannabis craft grow business on the city’s west side received unanimous approval.

“I think what you are all doing in our state is monumental,” Councilman Corey Dixon said. “There aren’t many black-owned organizations in this space like you are, and it’s something to be commended. I’m glad you chose Elgin.”

The company requested a conditional use permit and map amendment for the property at the 450 block of Shepard Drive. The zoning needed to be changed from industrial to general industrial, which allows for cannabis craft growing.

Grand Legacy is the second craft grower to win city approval. The first was Flora Arbor, which was approved in January for a location at 1300 Abbott Drive.

Grand Legacy received a state cannabis license as a social equity applicant. It’s a black-owned business whose investors have experience in a variety of fields, including nursing, counseling, banking, education and business.

Illinois has strict guidelines for cannabis craft grow businesses, said Marc Mylott, Elgin director of community development. No onsite sales or consumption are allowed, and cannabis can only be sold to licensed distributors, he said.

Additionally, the produce must be transported by a third-party company that’s licensed by the state and an extensive security plan that includes an unarmed security guard on site and 24-hour video monitoring by the Illinois State Police is required. A filtration system will prevent the release of any odors.

Grand Legacy co-owner Rod Collins, who worked in Elgin for a few years, said the company wants to give back to the city. Their philosophy is the more they receive, the more they want to give, he said. “It’s a perpetual cycle of philanthropy,” he said.

Flora Arbor is ahead of them in terms of approval but not yet open, Mylott said.

“We’ve been reaching out and encouraging them,” Mylott said. “They are continuing to work through the building permit process.

“There are a lot of requirements by the state of Illinois in terms of what this facility needs to be,” he said. “We’re working through some of those issues, and we are ready to work with them through the process.”

While Councilman Toby Shaw voted yes on the zoning needed for Grand Legacy, he said — as he has in the past — that he remains opposed to legalized marijuana.

Councilman Steve Thoren had a different perspective on the business. “I’m an old hippie, and I can’t wait to come to the ribbon-cutting,” he said.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.