On June 25, 2019, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was signed into law. Effective January 1, 2020, the sale of recreational cannabis will be permitted in Illinois. During the next few months, communities throughout Illinois will need to decide whether they will “opt out” or permit the sale of recreational cannabis. A community that opts out will be prohibiting recreational cannabis businesses and therefore not allowing the sale of recreational cannabis within that jurisdiction. A community that decides to permit the sale of recreational cannabis will need to implement various changes to zoning and municipal codes prior to January 1, 2020.
At their Regular Meeting on July 18, 2019, the Village Board held their initial discussion on recreational cannabis. The Board will continue their discussion on Thursday, August 1. The consensus of the Board to date was to refer the matter to the Planning & Zoning and Economic Development Commissions for review and recommendations and to solicit input from the community at large. A memo prepared by the Village Attorney with responses to Frequently Asked Questions was included in the meeting materials and is also available here.
Please take time to read the questions and answers and express your opinion to the Village Board using the contact information provided below. There will also be opportunities for public comment at the following meetings:
Village Board of Trustees Meetings - August 1 and August 15, 2019;
Preservation Commission Regular Meeting - August 8, 2019;
Economic Development Commission Special Meeting - August 22, 2019;
Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting and Public Hearing - August 28, 2019; and
Village Board of Trustees Meeting - September 5, 2019. - The Board will discuss commission recommendations and resident feedback and may vote on the issue at this meeting.