The Minooka Village Board of Trustees is inviting residents to drop in for a public hearing next month regarding recreational marijuana sales.
Trustees reached a consensus at Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting to inform the public of its intent to opt-out of allowing it.
The state of Illinois earlier this year took steps to legalize marijuana sales, effective Jan. 1, 2020.
Marijuana is currently decriminalized for recreational use and legally permitted for medicinal use in Illinois.
Village staff suggested that the board hold a public hearing on this issue to get a sense of the community’s opinion.
Discussion of allowing marijuana sales has met mixed reactions in many communities in suburban Illinois. While some are choosing to opt-in to allow recreational cannabis sales, others are looking to opt-out or have yet to officially decide.
When instructed by village staff to reach a consensus on this issue, little discussion was prompted among trustees at the meeting.
Trustee Dennis Martin, Village President Patrick Brennan and Village Administrator Dan Duffy had this exchange during the meeting, prompting the board’s discussion where some expressed their opinion in a single word, saying ‘No’ to recreational cannabis sales.
None of the trustees expressed support for opting-in.
Brennan and Duffy had this to say of the board’s consensus and the ordinance the village intends to draft.
Village board action, if taken, would prohibit business operations involving adult-use marijuana craft growers, cultivation centers, dispensing organizations, infusers, processors, and transporters.
The Minooka Village Board of Trustees typically meet at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month at Minooka Village Hall. Public meetings are open to the community, in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.