|
Mayor breaks tie as Mount Pulaski
City Council decides recreational marijuana businesses
Send a link to a friend
 [December 11, 2019]
On Monday, December 9, the Mount Pulaski City Council voted on an
ordinance regarding resale and grower recreational marijuana
businesses.
Since recreational marijuana use will become legal in Illinois as of
January 1, 2020, several counties will be permitted by the state to
have marijuana resale businesses.
The council had been discussing the issue for a few months.
Tuesday, November 26, the Mount Pulaski City Council held a town
hall style meeting to discuss whether to allow recreational
marijuana businesses within the city limits.
At that meeting, city attorney Jordan Klein said the council would
be deciding whether to allow the commercial sale and distribution of
cannabis. Two businesses being considered are a dispensary where it
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.
When 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.
Some felt having these businesses would send the wrong message, be a
headache and negatively affect the work force ethic.
Others said it would be no different than having a tavern and could
bring revenue to the town.
At the prior meeting, council members also had various viewpoints on
the issue. Bobell said a straw poll showed half in favor and the
other half against allowing marijuana businesses.
Those in favor said it was due to potential income and revenue and
seeing it as no different from alcohol or tobacco.
Those against allowing the businesses had concerns about the risks
and wanted to wait down to see what happens.
Before the vote on Monday, Mayor Bobell said they were under a time
constraint with the upcoming legislation and wanted the council to
pass one of the ordinances, with one allowing these businesses and
the other prohibiting these businesses.
If the council “remained silent” on the issue, Bobell said there
would not be restrictions and anyone following Illinois state
guidelines regarding cannabis could own and operate a business.
He asked for any final comments.
One community member said there are arguably almost no deaths from
marijuana and asked questions such as “are we going to legislate
morality” and “should we just close all the bars?” He also said the
town is dying and has turned down businesses and the revenue from
marijuana businesses could help the town and provide jobs.
[to top of second column] |
Councilman Andrew Neaville said if the city does allow these businesses he would
like to at least see restrictions on where they would be located and did not
want them next to churches and schools.
Joyce Maxheimer said she wanted to follow the people’s lead and stand up for
what they want. She said at the town hall meeting, it seemed that it was 60-40
against the businesses.
Maxheimer said one citizen had written that elected government officials swear
an oath they will uphold the Illinois State Constitution whose preamble says,
“mandates government to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the
people.” She said that citizen did not want the businesses allowed just because
of the city being desperate for revenue.
Councilman Dan Smock’s motion to allow resale and grower recreational marijuana
businesses passed with a 4-3 vote.
Councilmen Smock, Darin Phillips, and Tim Emrick voted yes.
Councilmen Maxheimer, Neaville, and Wilfred Rentmeister voted no.
Mayor Matt Bobell broke the tie.
[Angela Reiners]
Logan County and communities
preparing for January 1, 2020 Illinois legalized recreational marijuana sales
Mount Pulaski
Dec 4, 2019
Mount Pulaski mulls marijuana grower and retail sale
ordinance
Part 1
https://youtu.be/VUjIu6SYJYM
Part 2
https://youtu.be/WiKikPXqlHk
Part 3
https://youtu.be/G87JjWN9N1Y
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
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
 |
