Libertyville Village Board Nixes Marijuana Referendum

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — The Libertyville Village Board has voted down a measure that would've placed an advisory referendum regarding whether the village should allow cannabis dispensaries in town.

In a 0-6 vote, the village board on Tuesday rejected the resolution, Kelly Amidei, village administrator for the village of Libertyville, told Patch an in email response.

The resolution considered by the board could have put an advisory referendum on voters ballots in Libertyville that stated: “Shall the Village of Libertyville allow the retail sale of adult use recreational cannabis products at dispensary businesses licensed by the State of Illinois, subject to statutorily permissible restrictions?”

An advisory referendum is not legally binding, but is meant to obtain feedback form voters on a particular issue, according to village documents. In order for a referendum to appear on the April 4 ballot, it must be passed by a governing board and filed with the county clerk by January 17.

In 2019, the village board unanimously voted in favor of banning the production, sale and use of recreational marijuana in Libertyville shortly before it became legal to sell in the state. Recently, Mayor Donna Johnson introduced the resolution calling for the nonbonding advisory referendum, stating marijuana sales could be a good source of revenue for the village for many years to come, the Daily Herald is reporting.

The village board in August 2021 did vote in favor of allowing a 3 percent tax on marijuana sales, the maximum amount allowed, if the village does decide at some point to move forward with allowing dispensaries in town, according to the Daily Herald.