Collinsville public hearing ends with revocation of Studio 420’s special-use permit
By Ray Popkess • At itsmost recent monthly meeting on Thursday, May 14, the Collinsville Planning Commission held a public hearing and was presented with a report by city staff to make a recommendation regarding a special-use permit revocation from the owner of a former Main Street “smoke shop,” Studio 420.
All members of the planning commission voted yes to recommend the revocation to council members during the next Collinsville City Council meeting on May 26.
On Aug. 18, 2025, special agents of the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI) completed an hour-long investigation at 106 W. Main St., the former location of Studio 420, that resulted in the purchase of one Nitro Whip Cream Chargers and one “cracker,” a device utilized for the purpose of extracting nitrous oxide from containers to allow the user to inhale the gas to get high.
The following day, another investigation was conducted by MEGSI that resulted in the purchase of a 670-gram Exotic Whip Nitrous Oxide tank.
On Aug. 20, 2025, a Madison County search warrant was executed where six employees of the smoke shop were detained.
Upon seizure of the additional stock of nitrous oxide containers and “crackers” found within the shop, Zachariah Yinger, the owner of Studio 420, was charged with unlawful possession of nitrous oxide with the intent to deliver.
As of February 2026, Yinger and the State of Illinois entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, stating that staying proceedings of Yinger’s charges for a period of 24 months, with multiple terms and conditions, including the cessation of sales of any nitrous oxide products at any of his establishments in Madison County, a $20,000 restitution sum paid to the “Friends of the MCTAC” Madison County Problem Solving Courts and closure and cessation of all operations at Studio 420 within 90 days of the agreement. As of April 2026, Studio 420 has closed and is no longer operating in the City of Collinsville.
If Yinger agrees to fully comply with the terms he was presented with, charges will be reduced and amended to the offense of “reckless conduct” and a conviction shall be entered with no additional sentence.
City code allows the holder of a special-use permit to transfer said permit within 12 months after they’ve ceased operations provided the city has not already revoked the permit. Yinger opted to not voluntarily relinquish his special-use permit back to the city.
