Pot in Libertyville: Sound Off at Public Hearing Next Week

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Libertyville residents will have the chance to sound off on whether they believe recreational marijuana should be sold in town once it becomes legal on Jan. 1 during public hearing next week. Last month, village officials directed the matter on whether the village should allow the sale or crop production of recreational marijuana in town to the plan commission for further discussion, according to village documents.

The Libertyville Plan Commission now plans to hold a hearing starting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 26 with the purpose of receiving comments from the public on the matter, according to village officials. The meeting will be held at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church Street.

There are currently no marijuana businesses in Libertyville. But once the new state law takes effect on Jan. 1, owners of dispensaries or other new types of cannabis businesses, including infusers, processors and craft growers, may contact the village regarding establishing a future location, according to the village board agenda for Aug. 13.

Libertyvile Mayor Terry Weppler is opposed to recreational sales in town due to the fact that there is "no test for intoxicated driving as there is with alcohol," according to a post on Weppler's Facebook page.

"As a police officer for 26 years I was involved in assisting at many accidents and helping pull injured people out of cars," according to Weppler. "One additional person injured or killed as a result of a driver impaired by marijuana is one too many for me."

As a police officer for 26 years I was involved in assisting at many accidents and helping pull injured people out of cars. One additional person injured or killed as a result of a driver impaired by marijuana is one too many for me.

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