Pot Businesses Will Be Allowed In Darien After City Council Vote

DARIEN, IL — City council members in Darien last week voted not to ban recreational marijuana businesses in town. The vote, which went 4-3 against prohibiting these businesses, was closely in line with a recent city-conducted survey that showed 56 percent of residents in favor of allowing recreational marijuana businesses to open.

"The vote to prohibit failed to be approved with 3 of 7 voting to approve it," Darien City Administrator Bryon D. Vana said.

Although recreational marijuana businesses will be allowed in Darien, the city can still levy a few restrictions.

Rules could be adopted governing the time, place, manner and number of cannabis business establishments, and minimum distance limitations between cannabis business establishments and locations the city deems sensitive, the city wrote in its weekly "Darien Direct Connect" email following the city council vote.

The zoning review process could take between anywhere from three to five months to complete.

Watch the full meeting that included the vote on Sept. 16 below.