Recreational Marijuana Gets A Big Yes In Cook County

COOK COUNTY, IL - Voters in Cook County voted overwhelmingly Tuesday in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. A referendum that appeared as the final question on all ballots in the primary was advisory only, but with nearly all precincts reporting, about 70 percent of voters in the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County voted in favor of legalization.

Stated as "Shall the state of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?" on both Democratic and Republican ballots, the results of the vote will only advise lawmakers on whether or not to move in a direction to legalize. The vote in favor of legalizing marijuana does not mean it will be legalized as a result of the vote.

READ MORE: Recreational Marijuana Referendum On Ballot In Cook County

Recreational marijuana is already legal in a handful of states. The drug is legally used for medicinal purposes in several more, including Illinois. Follow more Illinois elections here

SHALL THE STATE OF ILLINOIS LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL USE?

SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY:

(1,477 of 1,599 precincts reporting)

Yes: 63.22%

No: 36.78%

CITY OF CHICAGO:

(1,814 of 2,069 precincts reporting)

Yes: 73%

No: 27%

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