Buffalo Grove Will Likely Allow Marijuana Sales in Town

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — As towns throughout the suburbs look at banning the sale of recreational marijuana within their boundaries, it appears village officials in Buffalo Grove are on track to allow retails sales, the Daily Herald reports. Recreational marijuana will become legal for adults in the state on Jan. 1 and municipalities can not impose an outright ban on its use, but can regulate whether businesses in town can sell marijuana and also put in place zoning restrictions to control where the drug is sold.

The matter was discussed during a village meeting on Monday, with most trustees saying they are OK with allowing marijuana being sold in town, according to the article. The village's planning and zoning commission will now discuss where in town marijuana should be sold and how many businesses should be allowed to sell marijuana.

Village officials are recommending Buffalo Grove allow no more than two businesses in the village to sell marijuana, according to deputy village manager Christopher Stilling. In addition, the village is recommending any medical cannabis dispensing organization not be located within 1,000 feet of the property line of a pre-existing private or public preschool, primary or secondary school, daycare center or daycare home. In addition, recreational sales would not be allowed in a house, apartment or any other area zoned for residential use, according to village documents.

Village officials say that allowing marijuana sales in town could bring in $300,000 to $400,000 more per year in sales tax revenue, according to village documents. Towns that allow marijuana sales can enact up to a 3 percent sales tax for pot purchases.

More via the Daily Herald or the village of Buffalo Grove village board packet for Aug. 5