4 Of 5 Favor Recreational Cannabis Shops In Highland Park: Survey

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Only one in five Highland Park Patch readers who participated to a recent poll said they opposed allowing pot shops in town.

Among nearly 1,700 responses across north suburban towns, self-identified members of the Highland Park-Highwood community were the most supportive of the state legislature's June 2019 decision to legalize recreational cannabis. Nearly 85 percent saying Illinois made the right call, according to the unscientific survey.

Six months after the legalization of cannabis in Illinois took effect, the Highland Park City Council has initiated a process to lift restrictions it imposed last year prohibiting new cannabis businesses from operating and prohibiting the existing medical marijuana dispensary from selling to people without medical cards.

Highwood had planned to allow a single dispensary, but the coronavirus pandemic has prevented new licenses from being issued and none of the existing license-holders have sought to open up a location in town.

Of the nearly 300 people who identified themselves as Highland Park Patch readers, almost 80 percent supported opting in or allowing more recreational marijuana shops.

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, although they were slightly more likely to say it had gone better than expected and less likely to say it has gone worse.

Respondents who supported allowing recreational marijuana businesses in town were asked where they would like the tax revenue to be allocated. The most common responses were schools, infrastructure and support for local businesses.

When respondents were asked what they would change about the state's cannabis rules, many said nothing. A few wanted the rules loosened and more home delivery or cultivation permitted. Under current law, people with medical marijuana cards may grow up to six plants under certain conditions.

"I wish people would get over their own personal bias around the substance," one respondent said.

"If dogs are allowed to poop at the beach, cannabis smokers should be allowed in a small area on the beach. It is about feeling better, introspection," said another, who suggested health insurance should cover medical cannabis. "Especially now with a pandemic causing lonely people a bit more loneliness."