Overview

• Ald. Andre Vasquez declined to advance the zoning change for 2415 W. Peterson Ave., effectively stopping the Releaf dispensary at that site.
• Vasquez cited community feedback that viewed retired officers profiting from cannabis as fundamentally unfair given past enforcement.
• The Kaneh Group’s ownership includes several retired Chicago police officers and holds a 2023 Illinois social equity license with majority-Black leadership from impacted neighborhoods.
• Kaneh proposed a 5% community trust, building improvements, robust security, local hiring, and health seminars to address neighborhood concerns.
• Company representatives say they will likely withdraw the application for this location and look for another site, potentially outside Chicago.