Resident nurse practitioner warns of youth risk near proposed Brookfield cannabis dispensary

Jacqueline Rincon, a nurse practitioner and parent, told the Village of Brookfield board on Jan. 12 that she opposes locating a proposed cannabis dispensary near family destinations such as a park and nearby ice-cream shops.

"Adolescent brains are still developing," Rincon said, and she warned that communities with dispensaries tend to see higher use among young people and higher prevalence of substance-use disorder. Rincon, who said she works primarily with adolescents and has been a nurse practitioner since 2014, said she would provide citations for the studies she referenced.

Rincon added that the dispensary site is a high-traffic area that would likely increase safety risks for families and push social norms toward substance use. She recommended investing in programs and organizations such as NAMI that provide supportive, non‑substance-based options for youth and families.

The presiding official told the audience that the board intends to allow public comment specifically during the Committee of the Whole discussion of the dispensary later in the evening; the committee meeting was expected to follow the adjournment of the village board session.

Rincon and another resident who raised an unrelated parking-safety issue said they would provide studies and background material to staff by email.