Mount Pulaski mulls marijuana grower and retail sale ordinance

 

[December 04, 2019] 

On Tuesday, November 26, the Mount Pulaski City Council held a town hall style meeting at the American Legion. The topic was whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses within the city limits.

Council members present were Darin Phillips, Joyce Maxheimer, Wilfred Rentmeister, Andrew Neaville and Tim Emrick. Mayor Matt Bobell was also present. Council member Dan Smock was absent.

City attorney Jordan Klein said the council is deciding whether to allow the commercial sale and distribution of cannabis. Two types of businesses being considered - a dispensary where product can be purchased, and a grow house where it could be cultivated. Klein said there are different levels and the city could choose all or none, and put limits on locations. Cannabis would still not be legal in the streets.

Mayor Bobell opened the floor for comments.

Police Officer Tony West said since they discourage kids from using marijuana, he does not see it as a good choice.

Several community members had questions, concerns and comments.

Since other towns similar in size to Mount Pulaski are turning down the businesses, one citizen thought Mount Pulaski should too, and as new families come in he does not want it here. Another person said it is too much of a headache and there are already enough problems to deal with, so he would rather have people go to Springfield or Lincoln to get marijuana.

Since there is no one alive when marijuana was last legal to consume, Bobell said he is not sure what to expect.

One citizen asked why it would be treated any different than a tavern.

In response, another community member said with drinking, police can test people with a breathalyzer, but he did not think there was a way to test whether a person is impaired by marijuana.

He was told there is an eye test kit for marijuana, but the city does not have one.

There was another question about whether the council is looking for a place to supply marijuana or a safe zone, plus how it would be taxed.

Bobell said they can allow the dispensary and/or a place to consume, plus decide on distances from churches or school.

On top of existing sales taxes already in place, Emrick said it would be taxed at three percent once it is sold to the end user. The money would go into the general fund.

Many towns have said no, due to stigma, but one citizen said the revenue could help with the city’s infrastructure. Others did not feel the money would be that great and would rather see “legitimate businesses” come to town.

Another person said marijuana will be legalized in Illinois January 1 whether we want it to or not, and will be controlled. If someone wants to come in and build a place away from a school or church, it could be good and a wonderful way to bring in revenue, so the town should not close the door.

Calling Mount Pulaski a “bedroom community,” one man asked whether the town does not want to grow or take on anything that is a risk even if it could bring in revenue. Though unsure if the business is a good one, he does not want to shut out business.

Concerns included teaching kids to go against drugs but now saying it is okay, putting morals aside to sell marijuana for tax dollars, lowering the work force ethic and driving after smoking marijuana.

Another community member asked if anyone has researched what has happened in Colorado and the unforeseen circumstances and problems. There was also a question of whether the police force would need to do more regulating, but Officer West said he is not sure yet and the force will learn as they go.

For others, personal accountability is the issue, and some feel it is no different than overindulging in alcohol. Other drugs have already been available for years and one person said we need to teach kids to take responsibility for their actions.

There was another question of whether employers would have a legal right not to hire people using marijuana or whether there is a means of testing them.

Klein said he is unsure but will look into it. Klein understands that employers would probably treat it like alcohol abuse. Just as people cannot be drunk on the job, they cannot be high on the job.

Even when it is legal, some pointed out that there will still be a black market.

One citizen said the council should look at how the 1930s council handled prohibition since it was a big issue then.

Bobell also asked council members to share their thoughts.

Officials representing Mount Pulaski included left to right: Darin Phillips, Joyce Maxheimer, Wilfred Rentmeister, City Attorney Jordan Klein, Mayor Matt Bobell, City Clerk Kelly Cowan, Andrew Neaville and Tim Emrick.

Neaville said, though marijuana will be legal in Illinois, he wants to wait down the road and see what happens before allowing it to be sold, though he would be fine with a grow house.

Phillips said he is in favor of it due to the potential income and revenue, but it is costly to start marijuana related businesses. He doubts anyone will come here to set up shop in a small town.

Maxheimer said she has read articles saying there is not enough good science on marijuana, scientists cannot study it in most labs and there have just been a few human clinical trials. She is also concerned about a child getting a hold of marijuana laced gummy bears. Since there is so much to learn yet, Maxheimer is not ready to okay it in any way, shape or form.

Rentmeister said he is torn and on the fence. He sees both pros and cons, but wants to do what is right for the city and what everyone wants.

Emrick said he has been in favor of it from the beginning. The social costs are ongoing, and people will get marijuana from somewhere, plus there will be costs even without revenue. Emrick sees it as no different from alcohol or tobacco and said if we ban cannabis, why not alcohol. Since business is tightly controlled, cannabis cannot be imported from other states. Emrick said in a sense, if you are against it, you are almost against Illinois jobs.

Bobell said he has done a straw poll of council members and it is close to being a tie. Though Bobell wants to leave it up to the council, he said rushing into a decision may not be good and hopes not to have to break the tie.

There was a question of whether the decision could be tabled until the March election and the people could vote on the issue in a referendum. However, Bobell said if there are no restrictions made, the town will be bound to the state code as of January 1. Waiting until March means they could not stop someone from opening a dispensary within city limits.

Emrick said they need to look at zoning maps and if there are certain commercially zoned locations they do not want one of the businesses in, they would need to tighten up the ordinance.

The licensing is up to the state and Emrick said the Illinois Department of Agriculture will be issuing dispensary licenses. Seventy-five will be issued in the first wave and seventy-five next year. The process for licensing will be rigorous.

Bobell had passed around a sample ordinance that would have restrictions on all types of businesses related to cannabis and Neaville motioned to adopt the ordinance with restrictions on all businesses, but it got no second.

Bobell will have Klein draft an ordinance with no restrictions and get it to the council members soon. If neither ordinance is approved, everything would be allowed.

If people have questions or suggestions, Bobell said they should contact their aldermen. Contact information can be found by going to https://cityofmtpulaski. com/departments/city-hall/city-council

The council will likely vote on the issue at their meeting Monday, December 9th.

[Angela Reiners]

From Mount Pulaski City Hall

Below are the links to the Town Hall/City Council meeting on 11/26/19.

There are three links for the complete meeting.

Due to the configuration of the legion it may be hard to hear all of the comments and questions of that audience, but you can hear them.
 

Part 1

https://youtu.be/VUjIu6SYJYM
 

Part 2

https://youtu.be/WiKikPXqlHk

Part 3

https://youtu.be/G87JjWN9N1Y

Logan County and communities preparing for January 1, 2020 Illinois legalized recreational marijuana sales

City of Lincoln
Dec 2, 2019 -  Lincoln aldermen to vote on in-store recreational marijuana consumption

Sept 20, 2019 - Lincoln aldermen split on legal sale of recreational marijuana
Mayor left to make the decision

Aug 29, 2019 - Potential recreational marijuana dispensary entrepreneurs approach city of Lincoln

• Part one: Business developers request support for retail establishment

• Part two: City constituents and aldermen raise questions

Logan County (unincorporated areas)

Oct 17, 2019 - Logan County Board says no to marijuana dispensaries and hooka lounges

Oct 11, 2019 - Logan County Board to vote on whether or not to allow marijuana dispensaries

State of Illinois

Aug 2019 - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Announces First “Same-Site” Licenses for Adult Use Cannabis