CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Provide direction on potential adult-use cannabis zoning ordinance components.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Allison Laff, AICP, Deputy Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
A public hearing will be held before the Planning and Zoning Commission once amendments to Title 6 (Zoning Ordinance) have been drafted.
BACKGROUND:
Medical Cannabis Regulations
In 2013, the State of Illinois enacted the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act which became effective on January 1, 2014. Per the adopted act, the cultivation and dispensing of medical marijuana for use in serious diseases became permitted in all municipalities, subject to the limitations of the Act. While municipalities were not permitted to opt-out of having these facilities in their city, they were permitted to adopt stricter zoning regulations than those provided in the Act.
The City adopted zoning regulations for medical cannabis facilities in December 2013 (attached). In addition to the location requirements specified by the State of Illinois, the City added an additional 250 foot separation requirement between these facilities and residential properties. Since the State's regulations only noted that a dispensing organization cannot be located on residential property, this local regulation exceeded State requirements.
For reference, the City currently has one medical cannabis dispensing facility (known as GTI) located on an industrial-zoned property on Quincy Avenue. GTI has informed the City that it will seek approval to co-locate an adult-use cannabis operation at the same location when the zoning is established to do so.
Adult-Use Cannabis
The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), legalizing and regulating the production, consumption and sale of recreational cannabis in Illinois (also known as "adult-use cannabis"), took effect on January 1, 2020. The CRTA allows adults over ...
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