Lincolnshire’s Village Board voted Monday night to officially approve a zoning amendment banning recreational marijuana dispensaries in the village.
The village joined many of its neighboring communities in opting out of allowing cannabis sales within the town.
Ben Gilbertson, director of community and economic development, said the village’s Zoning Board felt rushed with the legalization date beginning so soon, and they deemed the ban an appropriate choice for now.
“They wished they would’ve had more time to consider the issue, to determine economic impact the village would potentially see,” he said of the village president-appointed advisory board. Its recommendation was passed on to the Village Board for the final and binding decision.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill in June legalizing recreational marijuana possession, consumption and sale in Illinois beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The new law allows some adults 21 and older to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of cannabis-infused edibles.
Municipalities across the state have been discussing in recent months whether or not to allow licensed dispensaries to sell cannabis in their towns. Lincolnshire trustees began talking about the local decision in July, hearing from drug-prevention advocates, substance specialists and students.
On Oct. 15, the board held a Committee of the Whole meeting in which mayor Elizabeth Brandt asked members of the public in attendance to raise their hand in favor or opposition of allowing dispensaries.
The majority opposed, and many community members spoke directly to the board, urging trustees to vote “no.”
One resident spoke in favor, saying the village would be hypocritical for allowing the selling of alcohol but not cannabis.
In addition to the official vote Monday night, other amendments were approved to update the language in the village code regarding regulations and fines related to marijuana use.
Representatives from the Stand Strong Coalition and the Stevenson High School Catalyst Club, two alcohol- and drug-prevention groups, thanked the board for its vote.
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“You guys are doing what you can to create a community that makes it easier for kids to remain alcohol- and drug-free,” said Jamie Epstein, executive director of the Stand Strong Coalition.
Gilbertson said it’s possible the decision might be brought back to the Village Board at a later date to determine whether or not to continue the ban.
“We would certainly stay abreast of developments in other communities that allow these sorts of businesses as well as those that don’t, just to see what sort of impact or effect these businesses have,” he said.