Journal & Topics Media Group

Village ‘Opts-In’: Adult Recreational Cannabis Coming To Mount Prospect


Mount Prospect Village Hall. (Journal photo)

The village of Mount Prospect has officially voted to opt-in to allow the sale of adult recreational cannabis.

The village previously held various discussions, including two village board meetings in December 2019. During a special meeting of the board on Dec. 10, 2019, trustees decided to opt-out of state-regulated adult-use cannabis sales by a vote of 4 to 2.

In August, the board adopted the non-binding referendum to be asked of voters during the Nov. 3 Presidential General Election. The referendum stated, “Shall the Village of Mount Prospect allow the sale of adult use recreational cannabis and related uses within the laws established by the State of Illinois and the Village of Mount Prospect?”

Residents voted in favor of allowing the sale of adult recreational cannabis with 64.63% in favor.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the village held a virtual public hearing last night, Dec. 1, instead of in-person. To prepare, they provided an email address and phone number for residents to submit their comments. They also had a staff member continue to monitor emails, phone calls, and texts throughout the public hearing. 

The board had three draft ordinances up for consideration: opt-in, opt-in with a permitted use exception, and a taxation ordinance.

The opt-in ordinance would allow the village to regulate cannabis businesses in “various capacities.”

Opt-in with a permitted use exception would allow the village to not only regulate cannabis businesses but also allow an existing medical dispensary, New Age Care, the ability to use their dispensary license without having to go through an entire new process of trying to obtain a different license.

The taxation ordinance would include changes to allow a tax of 3% on sales. Any tax revenue would be used by the village for capital projects, law enforcement training and other costs for the drug interdiction and addiction programs, property tax amendments for public safety pensions, and human services programs amongst other items.

However, not everyone believes revenue from the taxes should be a reason to vote in favor.

Resident Daniel Murphy’s comment, read by Major Arlene Juracek, said that he “hoped Mount Prospect would not succumb to the lure of easy taxes by approving recreational marijuana.”

Trustee William Grossi stressed that the village had to be realistic about how much tax revenue they will collect and that they need to make sure to use the taxes on high priority items.

Murphy was amongst three residents who submitted a public comment for the hearing.

Additional comments by another resident included asking the village to consider changing the hours of operation for recreational use businesses from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 9 a.m to 8 p.m.

A major discussion point for the trustees was the opt-in ordinance that would grant New Age Care a recreational use license.

Grossi opposed the ordinance on the grounds that residents surrounding the facility never got a voice in whether or not they approved of the facility being able to sell recreational use cannabis. Currently, New Age operates as a pharmacy which does not require resident approval to be taken into consideration.

“Why would we even consider giving them the opportunity that we aren’t giving any other potential cannabis…” said Grossi.

Village Manager Michael Cassady said that the ordinance should be considered because New Age has earned it.

“They have proven to us, every year, to operate that medical use pharmacy in a highly professional and safe way,” said Cassady.

Juracek responded that the ordinance should be considered because New Age already has a license from the State of Illinois and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they don’t expect any new applications for approximately two years. Juracek also said that New Age will be operating on appointment only, which would eliminate another big concern: traffic.

Trustee Richard Rogers opposed the sale of adult recreational cannabis.

“I just don’t see how we can approve this cannabis vote when we are telling our children ‘don’t use drugs’ and at the same time we are going ahead and approving the use of drugs. This cannabis is a gateway drug into higher drugs. I am definitely against approving any drug use within the village of Mount Prospect, and I realize it is going on all around us but that doesn’t mean we have to join,” said Rogers.

Trustee Eleni Hatzis said they have reached a point where they have to put their personal feelings aside.

“We put this out there for our residents to vote, we put it in their hands…I feel like they spoke and there is nothing more I feel like we could do…we have to speak for our residents and so there really isn’t much we can do…personally I have to go with what our residents have said and that is to, unfortunately, go with it and just use the money for good use,” said Hatzis.

Trustee Paul Hoefert agreed.

“As I look at it, don’t ask the question if you don’t want the answer. So we asked and our citizens, our voters responded. So in my book, this is a done deal. We have to listen, otherwise we shouldn’t have asked,” said Hoefert.

Grossi said that while he is personally against it, he will be voting in favor of opting in.

After Juracek asked to waive the rules requiring a second reading of ordinances, the board voted on whether or not the village should opt-in to the sale of adult recreational cannabis.

The motion passed on a 5-1 vote, with Rogers opposing.

The accompanying taxation ordinance passed unanimously 6-1.

“A lot of good work by the staff, a lot of great thought put into this by the trustees, an amazing amount of input from our residents and our businesses…this has been a long time coming. I think this has been very thoroughly vetted,” said Juracek.

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One response to “Village ‘Opts-In’: Adult Recreational Cannabis Coming To Mount Prospect”

  1. Barbara Miller says:

    I am glad to hear that recreational Cannabis sales are coming to Mount Prospect. People who are concerned that their kids will get into drugs don’t understand that they could get into drugs before they even passed legalization of marijuana sales. If kids want to find it they will. Same as alcohol. If the kids want to find it they will find it.

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