Majority Favors More Cannabis Businesses In Evanston, Survey Says

EVANSTON, IL — Nearly 40 percent of Evanston Patch readers who who participated to a recent poll have visited a recreational marijuana dispensary in the six months after the cannabis legalization in Illinois, and almost 70 percent favor allowing more dispensaries in city limits.

Four out of five of Evanston Patch readers who responded said the state legislature made the right decision when it voted to legalize the possession and sale of recreational cannabis last year. That's 10 percent more than the average among the poll's nearly 1,700 north suburban respondents.

Evanston has had a single cannabis dispensary operating out of a city-owned parking structure on Maple Avenue that has been selling recreational marijuana since Jan. 1.

Local respondents broadly shared the view of their North Shore counterparts when it comes to how the implementation of cannabis legalization has proceeded when compared to expectations.

In Evanston, the first $10 million in tax revenue has been allocated to a reparations funds to aid Black Evanstonians. Many respondents agreed, with some suggesting the money go toward a school in the city's Fifth Ward or toward those who have been convicted of cannabis-related charges.

When respondents were asked what they would change about the state's cannabis rules, several Evanston Patch readers called for loosening the restrictions on entering the industry.

"Make it easier for minority businesses to open," one said.

"Stop monopolies of white men - truly diversify the industry (it’s a cabal currently)," said anther. "I do not believe my hopes will come true though based on decades of how IL does business."

"Make sure that supply can keep up with demand. This is a biggest issue in my opinion. Without adequate supply costs will continue to be higher than the national average," a local respondent suggested. "Prices at the dispensary’s are 3x what I pay on the street and the same quality. I get most of my all of my cannabis from my 'local dispensary' rather than one owned by a massive cooperation."