KANKAKEE — Kankakee County’s first medical cannabis clinic has opened in Kankakee.

Peace of Mind Kankakee, an appointment-only medical clinic, opened April 5 along Kennedy Drive. The location serves clients ages 21 and older.

The clinic is licensed to Bob Geekie, 63, of Bourbonnais, and is managed by Lindsay Warren, 34, of Bradley.

Licensed through Illinois’ Medical Cannabis and Opioid Alternative programs, the location evaluates, screens and then determines if the applicant can be included into the state’s medical marijuana program.

If the patient is included into the program, the person can receive, through one of the state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis during a 14-day period.

The nearest dispensary is in Joliet. Medical marijuana is to be consumed only at home.

Warren, a graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, said as of late last week, only four clients had been approved for medical marijuana use through the Kankakee location.

Obviously, they expect the number to increase. She noted the location has received numerous inquiries.

<strong>‘Something the community needed’</strong>

Geekie, a permitted medical marijuana user for the past six months, said he had to drive to Peoria for a screening to get his medical marijuana card. He didn’t want others in need to be forced to do the same.

“I thought this would be something the community needed. I decided to get involved and be helpful to the community,” he said.

He noted medical marijuana is a heavily-regulated industry.

Clients are first prescreened over the telephone. This screening takes 15 to 30 minutes, Warren said. If the client is viewed as a candidate for the program, they then meet with the site’s medical doctor at the location.

“We haven’t had what I would say are flaky or silly calls. These are people serious about the program,” she said.

Medical marijuana is used to treat conditions associated with illnesses ranging from Alzheimer’s, AIDS, ALS and cancer to Parkinson’s disease, seizures and Tarlov cysts to traumatic brain injury.

Formerly in the automotive business and for the past 10 years in an Aroma Park-based business, Geekie began exploring this business concept in October 2018.

“I’m passionate about this,” he said.

He noted the serious problem Kankakee County has had with opioid addiction, due in part to the over-prescribing of narcotic-based medications.

He said marijuana would often be a much better choice for people suffering.

Warren is surprised no one has established a screening site locally, but she is proud to be part of the first site.

“We are expecting the best,” she said. “That’s what we are anticipating.”

A medical marijuana card must first be gained through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The card costs the user $100 for a one-year card, $200 for a two-year card or $250 for a three-year card.

Medical marijuana consumption has been legal in Illinois since then-Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act to legalize medical marijuana, effective Aug. 1, 2013.

Public Act 98-0122 allows prescribed users to purchase and use up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana over a 14-day period. To be qualified, patients must acquire a medical marijuana prescription from a doctor who has an established history of treating the patient.

Under the law, patients must obtain medical marijuana only from licensed dispensaries authorized by the Illinois Department of Public Health. A caregiver is permitted to pick up medicine for very ill, homebound patients.

In June 2016, Gov. Bruce Rauner approved legislation that extended the state pilot program to at least July 2020 and expanded it to post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness.

Illinois is one of 32 states making legal the use of marijuana for medical reasons. While California was the first, starting in 1996, others have joined including the Midwestern states of Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota and Ohio.

Ten states also have made legal the consumption of marijuana for recreational use. Those states are California, Michigan, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Nevada. Illinois is considering a similar move.