Downers Grove Opts Out Of Recreational Cannabis Sales

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — After contentious debate and a meeting that lasted close to four hours, the Downers Grove Village Council has voted against the sale of recreational adult use cannabis. Trustees voted 4 to 3 Tuesday to opt out of allowing sales within village limits.

Before the vote was taken, Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett apologized to residents.He said, "From my vantage point I feel we failed in the process [because] we told you one thing and then we did it different."

Barnett was referring to a point of contention that came up after the village had initially planned to send the matter to the zoning and planning committee to consider sites that cultivate and transport cannabis in addition to retail sites.

That idea was tabled in September, when village officials decided instead to move forward with the first reading of an ordinance to opt out of cannabis sales, a move that some residents and village council members felt was premature.

During the meeting, resident Paul Worcester said, "We've had a long time knowing this is coming to research it. I think it's short-sighted and naive to bury our heads in the sand without allowing the staff to do adequate research."

He added, "Not doing that work is a failure of good government."

At the start of discussion, Commissioner Greg Hose hoped to address this apparent misstep. Hose proposed an amendment to the prohibition that would repeal the ban on Jan. 1, 2021 in the hopes that the council would then have had enough time to properly research the issue and see how it impacts surrounding communities.

"We want other people to experience whatever the detriments are and we'd like to learn from and observe them before take that on for our residents."

Ultimately, Hose's motion also failed with a 3 to 4 vote.

Hose, Barnett, and Commissioner Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt each voted in favor of Hose's amendment and against the prohibition of recreational cannabis sales.

Commisioner Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt said, "I am profoundly upset about how the governing process fell apart on this issue. We should have been discussing the implications of zoning for all cannabis businesses, not just dispensaries and retail sales."

The public comment portion of the meeting lasted close to three hours, with Mayor Barnett nearly having to wield his gavel mid-meeting to restore order.

"Don't make me do this. I hate doing this. This is embarrassing," Barnett said, gavel in midair amid a cacophony of voices.

A number of residents took to the podium to express their views on recreational cannabis in Downers Grove. Many in opposition mentioned children, public safety, and other potentially detrimental effects of cannabis sales.

Resident Katherine Malloy said that instead of the "negatives" that come from marijuana use, she wanted children and others to "contemplate positive thoughts, such as how much God loves them. Then they'll learn to love themselves, their families, their communities, their country, and most importantly, their God."

Residents in favor of opting in cited potential tax revenue and benefits of recreational marijuana sales in the village.

One resident, Susan Wan, addressed what she felt was a lack of communication from the village after their decision to take a vote instead of doing more research.

"I did write to the council, but I only heard from three people in response. And for those that passed in support of going to this prohibition, I never heard from any of you regarding why you felt the way you did," Wan said.

Commissioners Nicole Walus and Rich Kulovany contended that they had read each email. Walus apologized if she missed responding to any emails.

She went on to say that deciding to opt out was not a hasty choice for her.

"I promise you that I have been back and forth on this issue. Considering one side and then considering another side. It has not been an easy decision for me," Walus said.

"I read every single email, I engaged in Facebook," Kulovany said.

Though the village council did not approve Hose's motion, they did say they may revisit the issue of cannabis sales at a later date.

One resident responded that she hoped a future process to research recreational cannabis businesses would be more effective and not just what she called "more of the same."