John and Joe Florist closer to becoming medical marijuana grower

John and Joe Florist in Streator is one step closer to becoming a craft grower for medical marijuana.

The Streator Plan Commission approved a special use permit and rezoning request Tuesday for the more than 70-year-old business. The commission's recommendation will move forward to the Streator City Council to vote upon.

John and Joe Florist owners Jodi and Craig Bodznick are partnering with Llerrem, a medical cannabis grower and seller based in Chicago. Their co-CEO’s, Paul Magelli and his sister, Merrell, are both Streator natives and family of the Bodznicks.

“We intend to build Llerrem Illinois as a company in Streator,” Paul Magelli said. “We want this to be a Streator-based business. That will require several million dollars of investment.”

Magelli said Llerrem’s background is in health care, and their intention is to grow marijuana for medical and over-the-counter uses, rather than recreational.

The exact location of the new facility has not been made concrete, but it will be on the property John and Joe Florist currently occupies. Any new facility is required to be highly secure with double doors and a vehicle entrance to allow transport to take place out of the public eye. They intend to keep the vehicle entrance on Main Street to avoid disturbing neighbors on Carroll Street.

Magelli envisions the new building being similar to a Morton building but built up to the required standards.

“Think of this like a laboratory,” Magelli said. “It’s a clean room environment for growing. It’s not like a typical greenhouse. It’s actually the opposite. It’s a secure, closed facility where only employees get in. It’ll only be used by badged employees.”

Magelli said to meet regulations, the facility would need to be monitored 24/7 and strategies for law enforcement reaction would have to be outlined. Everything in the facility would need to be barcoded, and the state can perform an audit at any time.

The permit and rezoning request will go before the City Council during its meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19. The company is still going through the process of obtaining a growing license from the state of Illinois.