Aurora Opts In To Recreational Cannabis Sales

AURORA, IL — Come Jan. 1, 2020, Aurora will be one of the municipalities in Illinois in which adults can buy cannabis for recreational consumption. The city voted 9 to 1 Tuesday in favor of a zoning ordinance that would allow four cannabis dispensaries within city limits as long as two of them are opened with social equity licenses, according to an update from Aurora spokesperson Clayton Muhammad.

The ordinance also outlined other rules about cannabis businesses, including that they must be located at least 750 feet from a "grade school, middle school or high school" and cannot be next to a day care center. Officials added that tax revenue earned from cannabis sales will be used to help support future developments and special events throughout the city.

Aurora's neighbors to the east, Naperville, voted in early September to opt out of recreational cannabis sales. Wheaton, Batavia, and Plainfield have also opted out of or are looking to opt out of recreational marijuana businesses, while Oswego is poised to vote on cannabis zoning laws.