The Wheaton, Illinois, based company NuEra Cannabis opened the first dispensary in Pekin on Friday.
NuEra Principal Officer Keith McGinnis is anticipating a busy weekend for the new adult-use dispensary, noting that it opens at a time when cannabis sales throughout the United States seem to be on the rise.
As an example of its potential benefit to Pekin’s business community, he pointed out that when NuEra opened its East Peoria medical dispensary in 2016, the Riverside Center where it was located was largely vacant. Five years later, new businesses and a steady flow of patrons have come to the shopping center, and new sales tax revenue has come to the city of East Peoria. McGinnis believes that NuEra’s presence can achieve the same result for Court Street and the city of Pekin.
“The city of Pekin will be very happy with the revenue going into its coffers throughout the year,” he added.
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Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amy McCoy maintained that it is a positive development any time a new business comes to a community. In addition to the anticipated tax revenue for the city, the store has created 12 new jobs.
“We’re happy to welcome (NuEra) to Pekin,” McCoy said.
Justin Wright, of Pekin, believes that the arrival of an adult-use cannabis store in the community is long overdue because he does not believe cannabis should be illegal at the state or federal level. He added that the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois will help the state regulate its sale and use.
“(People who want to buy cannabis) will buy it somewhere,” he said. “I’d rather see them buy it at stores than from cartels in Mexico.”
Tamia Brown of Pekin hopes that NuEra’s presence is the start of a trend where more new businesses come to the community, and she expects the city to benefit from the revenue the store will bring. Her main reason for looking favorably on a new cannabis store, however, seems to be that she has seen cannabis medically benefit a loved one.
“My uncle has been a three-time cancer patient,” she explained. “Cannabis has really helped him.”
With legalization of recreational cannabis a controversial issue nationwide, it is not surprising that the community’s reaction to a new dispensary in town is not uniformly positive. In January, Pekin City Council member Mike Garrison voted against NuEra’s special-use authorization request to set up the dispensary. Ross Gould, chairman of the Good Shepherd School board, also expressed concerns about the store’s proximity to the school. Brian Avery of Pekin does not see the presence of an adult-use cannabis store as inappropriate, but believes it is unnecessary.
“I think there are legitimate medical reason people need it for,” he said. “Medical issues aside, I don’t think anybody needs to do it. But, I think people will make excuses to do it. I feel the same way about alcohol.”
NuEra Pekin is located at 3249 Court St. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
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