For so many years we have heard that marijuana is the #gateway drug to hard drugs and it is still illegal in the state of Illinois to use marijuana for recreational use. So the question is now "Will Peru become a part of the experiment of using medical marijuana?"
Two presentations have been presented to the Peru City Council and one to the Princeton Economic Development Committee about building a #medical marijuana plant within their city. This is certainly not about jobs because it will only be about 25 to 30 and we do not know the level of skills that will be sought by either of the newly formed companies. What about the electric and water usage, can we supply it?
The city of Delavan has already annexed property to allow for the development of a MM facility.
Rockford Star news story on medical marijuana possibilities
Do you believe that this will be a wise choice for the Illinois Valley?
42 comments:
I don't think of this as a experiment. These are jobs and jobs with no skills required. Jobs that with no qualifications are the jobs that are needed. Every city is reaching out for any jobs. Look at the sand mines and what every city is doing. Peru is not the only city working on getting jobs. City compete for every job. How many cities would be interested in a prison? The answer is many. You can laugh about medical marijuana, it is now a industry. Why not work for bringing it to Peru/Lasalle/Princeton. I don't think Microsoft is moving to the Illinois Valley.
1:53 you are right. This is the future of our country. If we don't land these new jobs someone else will. It's legal so we should jump at the opportunity.
Anon 1:53 PM Unintentionally you have brought up a significant point. Would a major corporation consider the fact that a Peru had a medical marijuana production facility in the determination of whether it was to locate here or not?
Almost all endeavors that the State of Illinois government has become involved with have been a failure for many years. No one is going to convince me that MM will be any different. The state is already having problems with people becoming addicted to video gaming machines and doesn't know how to handle the problem. What has been considered illegal and bad becomes OK in the minds of most politicians once a dollar value becomes attached to it.
1:53 it's not legal. Contact the DEA and ask them. Better yet contact the FBI. I'm sure all you need to do is call the city clerks office and ask for the number. Just because the state passed it doesn't mean it's legal. What tax revenue are these people referring to? It sure wouldn't be sales tax generated for that town. The only tax revenue would be in property taxes. Works the Same as prescription drugs, the state benefits not the town.
Given this areas shaded past, I would think a med marijuana company would avoid it. If you truly are a pharmaceutical, you do not want to grow and process here. Maybe these are solely processing facilities? I have not read much about them.
How many states have MM companies in them legally? I think that only the states that are so low in the food chain would consider MM facilities.
Illinois with its history of Governors in prison is the last state in which marijuana should be produced. Why would Illinois with its political ineptness even be considered? The present President is from Illinois along with a long term Senator and this is the best that can be done?
Could someone please point me to the number of deaths by heroine overdose in this city compared to the number of deaths by marijuana overdosing? Go ahead, I'll wait.
Unless you count accidents, a pot OD will not hurt you.
Not having a knowledge of illegal drug use I have to question which drug is the normal introductory drug to non users - marijuana or heroine?
Are illegal drugs similar to most addictive subjects being a step up process that the longer the usage the more powerful the substance?
Anon 12:28 AM Are you asking a loaded question?
City leaders have to be adept at recognizing real opportunities when they arise. The MM phenomenon should be welcomed the same as any other manufacturer wanting to locate operations in our city.
What I would love to know is what kind of behind the scenes "wheelin' and dealin' is taking place with all these MM companies vying for the "affections" of Peru's elected officials. I can just see Harl and most of Peru's aldermen playing the "Bigshot" role and taking full advantage of some "special treatment" from the executives of these companies as they filter in and out of Peru. Perhaps a quaint little dinner party for Peru's elected officials and spouses just to get better acquainted. I envision our mayor and other elected officials "playing" the situation for all it's worth and the company executives laughing amongst themselves about what "easy marks" these local elected "rubes" are. They will be amazed at how "accomodating" the Peru city council becomes after they and their wives have knocked down a few free meals and some fancy cocktails. These MM companies will quickly adapt to "The Peru Way" of doing business. Cheers!
9:20 anon conspiracy
The media has made a big deal of the Medical Marajuana. Area cities have taken this as a opportunity to create jobs. Why not? As the newspaper has stated the company that is proposing or trying to get the state license approaches those towns. Peru council is just one of many across the state that has had interested MM growers proposals.
If your looking for free meals and fancy drinks, that is out of our local officials hands. The State of Illinois will grant the licenses. I doubt those quaint little dinner parties happen with your local town official.
Anon 11:25 AM You don't know much about Peru politics. Now that the MM Derby has started Peru's Big Horses will jump in front of the stall door with feed bag strapped on and both eyes focused on top shelf swill.
Knowing how the Big Horses wine and dine on local businesses without guilt (after council meetings, IML Meetings, Canadian fishing excursions etc., etc., etc) it is not hard to imagine the treatment someone gets who is trying to acquire a business with a endless money stream.
Hmmmmmm. I wonder how many meals and drinks the injection molding company and the fastener company and the siding company have purchased Peru officials. I'm thinking none. Only the local "business big shots" care about our Mayor and Aldermen. That is because the local "business big shots" are actually yokels that would fail if not for contracts from our local municipalities.
There is going to be a pot manufacturing facility in every state police district. It matters very little if it is in Peru, LaSalle, Oglesby, Spring Valley, etc. The facility will not generate any sales tax. It will generate some property taxes. What it will do is provide fifty or a hundred jobs at various pay scales from minimum wage to Upper Middle Class. It does not matter which City gets the facility - because without question, a facility will be built in the Illinois Valley.
Therefore, our "leaders" should not be offering any incentives. In fact, we should be looking at impact fees for electric, water, and sewer.
This is not a competitive situation between the cities of the Illinois Valley - we are going to get a facility. This is a rare case and we don't need to bend over for them.
Will they be selling prescriptions at City Hall? Or, do we have to go to a new Dr. Feel Good? If so, will City Hall have a list of Doctors that are "recommended."
Yikes....tell us about these so called special Big horses get these freebies? Can you give us a rundown on all those meetings cost to the taxpayers. This isn't 1930 anymore. Your watching too much cable TV. All of the local elected officials are plain old/young everyday yokels that work at Walmart, construction, etc. Canadian fishing trips? IML? Do you have receipts, photos of the big fish, trinkets from the so called conventions. Maybe they go to the local tavern in Spring Valley, LaSalle, Peru, Utica, or wherever they live. Who cares!
4:10 you are clueless
4:10 PM
yes some of it can be validated.
Anon 1:53. Your comment is one reason why blogs can't be taken seriously!!!!
I have bursitis. I usually smoke pot for the pain. But, it is getting expensive. How much pot will my O'Bamacare buy me?
Anon 4:10, 6:10 Apparently you have no better idea of what is politically happening in the 2000's as you did in the 1900's.
Peru is so clean that the FBI has been in town for how long?
Lois started this blog post of mentioning, "For so many years we have heard that marijuana is the #gateway drug to hard drugs"
Lois, was that a quote taken from a source, or a general statement based on your own beliefs? If it was taken from a source, could you please quote the source for me?
Anon 8:03, you sure their still in town?
To 1:32 pm, You are right about one thing and very wrong about another. you are correct in your thinking that Peru should not provide incentives to entice the MM facility to locate in Peru. I agree. However, you are very wrong about the situation as non-competitive between local cities.
It will be extremely competitive simply because the MM company holds all the cards and each city will have to provide incentives.
Peru's elected officials will find a way to give too much to win the facility simply because they lack the leadership, so[phistication and vision to negotiate a good deal for all parties. The MM company will expliot Peru's elected officials like the "Cheap Date" that they are and the Peru taxpayer will be providing some type of subsidy to yet another corporation when it's all said and done. Think about it. These growers need loads of electric power for their grow-lights. The city that cuts them the sweetest deal for power will win the game and there are only a handful of cities in State Police District 17 that can cut that kind of deal. Just watch it play out.
7:40 - what difference does it make if the facility is in LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, or any other city in District 17? The only revenue generated for the community will be in property taxes. From a jobs point of view, it matters very little to a person that lives in Peru if they need to drive to Ottawa for work. So I say again, zero incentives are required to attract the facility to a SP District 17 city. In fact, all of the District 17 cities should hold a meeting and to discuss setting an impact fee. The host city will need to compensate for safety, security, water, sewer, as well as electricity. Since this industry is not a free enterprise business and mostly a government controlled monopoly, they should pay an impact fee.
Again - a facility will be built in a District 17 City - from a jobs point of view it does not matter which one. We are not competing against Rockford, Peoria, Chicago, Moline, or any other City in Illinois for this facility. We will have one and they will have one and 22 other State Police Districts will have one.
The MM representatives said they get much of their power from solar energy, so they won't need as much electric power as Peru leaders may think.
7:40 Your vision is blinded by your inability to reason. What cities manufacture their own power that enables the city to cut a deal? Power deals are cut by the big boys--Com-ED, etc. You really give us the impression that these local officials have a lot to do with cutting deals.
9:12 AM
At this point it is Peru, Princeton, Hennepin and Spring Valley possibly. You are right about the jobs. Providing utilities and protection is something else because both of these are stretched at this point in time and we might need to hire more city employees.
Hiring more people is not the worst thing in the world if there is a need for it, ease up on unemployment , tax payers also carry that burden.
10:03 the city of Peru can cut its own deal with electric rates
10:19 The company is responsible for their own security. Peru probably spends more time with security on the bigger retail areas than they do or will on any manufacturing plant including MM. Electricity is pay as you play, if their choice is Peru or wherever the cost will be paid for by the company.
11:50 AM
Yes they will have their own security but like other places in Peru that have their own security, there are numerous times that they call the local law enforcement for help. I assume that they will need our FD, if a fire should happen that assumes they choose Peru but that would apply to any city they choose in District 17.
Why such a outcry about Medical Marijuana or airport concerts? Both are approved by the State officials. FFA has approved the airport concerts.
100% of us would try medical marijuana if you have a illness that can be treated with it. I assume that your city would profit from the sale of utilities. The facility would have security provided by trained in house teams. Fire and police have not only the local force but also neighboring towns. When was the last time you went to a major fire and you only had your town holding the hose?
This is easy. Lets not complicate this issue over somebody's moral objections.
To 10:03 am, I'm sorry to have to tell you how mistaken you are regarding Peru, Princeton, and some other cities who have the legal authority to negotiate electric rates with industrial customers within their corporate limits. You have much to learn about how Peru has for decades cut seperate deals for many industries. Don Baker provided cheaper rates for certain companies while charging others more. In fact, for a number of years Baker and Joe Prazen were selling electricity to some industrial customers at a "loss". That's right, Baker had authorized selling power for less than the city was purchasing it through the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.
Anybody who disputes that fact is just lying to you. Even today, Peru's mayor and aldermen are still playing politics with electric rates by raising industrial rates in order to remain keep up with the rising cost of purchased power through the IMEA. The cowards are placing the whole burden of cost increases on industry in Peru because they are scared to death to raise the residential rate for fear of being voted out of office. The cost of electricity will continue to rise for IMEA member cities and they are all scrambling to hide the truth from the citizens of their cities. None more so than Peru, whose city council continues to have Closed Session after closed Session where they try in vain to come up with a scam avoid telling the people the truth about their Coal Fired dependent IMEA and the fact that the city of Peru's cost to purchase power is projected to continue to rise dramatically for the next two decades. Oh, by the way, Peru is locked into a very long-term contract with the IMEA which is un-breakable. Just ask your mayor or alderman and watch him or her squirm. LOL!
3:01 - no objections. I am just pointing out that we do not need to provide additional incentives for this facility. One will be build in SP District 17 as well as all the other SP Districts. This provides jobs - which is good. But the facility will be within driving distance of everyone in the Illinois Valley not matter which city gets it. Additionally, this is a government sponsored monopoly that does not have any legal price competition. We do not need to incentivize them or supplement their profit - we should actually ask them to pay for the privilege of setting up shop in our town. It is not often you can do that in today's environment. This is a unique situation and I hope our "leaders" are not treating this like any other manufacturing plant that could locate anywhere in the state or the country.
Yes, the MM plant will be responsible for its own security. However, it will be a high value target and the host city should plan accordingly. There will be response requirements that might be a little bit more "robust" than a gang banger steeling cell phones.
There will also be unique fire response requirements. After all, the most popular delivery method for this medication is through burning it and inhaling the smoke. It would be interesting if the facility went up in flames and the smoke drifted south. Hmmmm that could be fun actually.
3:56 The most popular delivery method isn't smoke. It's not healthy. Fire response has different protocol for each and every company. Nothing new.
Here is Ottawa's stand:
From the Ottawa Times:
"At this point, the city of Ottawa is not offering any economic incentives to investor groups. "These operations are so profitable, and they haven't asked for it," Eschbach told The Times. "We're looking for ways for them to contribute to the community, rather than the other way around."
3:21 did you know Don has been out of office for sometime? The facts are that cost of power will continue to rise for everyone. That' not news. Go to the Public Works committee meeting and bring us back some real details. Its easier than squirming around with your scare tactics about drastic power increases. It confuses all of us when you call out Don BAKER for giving away power and in the very next sentence call out the current group as cowards in raising prices.
3:21 These deals were approved by the IMEA and they charged Peru a special rate for these customers. The rates at the time were used to entice customers to our area. The reason for the cost being higher that the price was for 2 businesses that their contract had expired. Both businesses were either shut down at the or had very small usage when this occured. Their rates have been increased since they have been back in operation. No conspiracy here just business to get new business.
To 4:24 pm regarding 3:21 pm,
3:21 pm's comment doesn't confuse me at all. I understand what he said perfectly clear. He said;
Don Baker sold power to some industrial customers for less than the city purchased it for, and the current mayor and aldermen are cowards for not being honest and straight-forward about the inevitable increases in electric rates coming to Peru.
Also, 4:24 pm, everyones rates will likely go up. However, those who purchase from providers or generators who count on Coal Generated electricity will pay significantly more. The IMEA is invested almost exclusively in Coal Fired Generation. Too bad for Peru and too bad for you!
Not confusing at all!
Jobs possible? Taxpayer upset? Hmmmm how upset are you with continuing to pay federal taxes for welfare and unemployment benefits for healthy capable people who can work but dont? Last time i checked my tax contribution federal and state far outweigh my local cost minus property which is life no matter where you live. What great water cooler fodder this is!!!!!!!
Doctors won't prescribe it
So I told him instead of paying my bill here I need it to buy marijuana that I asked for and its not cheap on the street. I don't want pills
I want marijuana. Period.
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