Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opening in Effingham

A dispensary for medical marijuana is opening in Effingham.

The Clinic Effingham will be located at 1009 Ford Avenue, the same building that houses the Effingham VA Clinic.

Ross Morreale, an owner of the dispensary, said that close proximity to services for veterans was a consideration in where to locate as well as Effingham's central location and interstate access. Under state law, one medical marijuana dispensary may be located in each State Police district, so The Clinic Effingham will serve District 12.

Morreale acknowledged that the medical marijuana industry didn't take off as briskly as was expected in Illinois, but said use has grown as additional illnesses and diseases have been approved for the treatment.

Morreale said medical marijuana is beneficial since it provides relief as opiates do, without the side effects those opiates can induce.

(THE GROUP OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON HAND MONDAY TO WELCOME THE CLINIC AS OWNER ROSS MORREALE CUTS THE RIBBON)

Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker said in welcoming the facility "In my estimation, as a society we are far past due in terms of accepting the benefits and value of cannabis. We have allowed it to be politicized and stigmatized, and the net result has been proliferation of unregulated black market outlets, and the lack of access to a remedy by those who need it."

Morreale said The Clinic Effingham should open within the next week or two.