Over 76% Support Recreational Marijuana Stores In Skokie: Survey

SKOKIE, IL — More than three of four Skokie Patch readers who participated in a recent poll favored allowing recreational marijuana shops in village limits. About one in three have visited a recreational marijuana dispensary since the legalization of cannabis in Illinois took effect in January.

More than 80 percent of Skokie 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 about 5 percent more than average among the poll's nearly 1,700 north suburban respondents.

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

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, social services and lowering property taxes.

When respondents were asked what they would change about the state's marijuana rules, Skokie Patch readers were mostly supportive of existing regulations although some suggested returning to the era of cannabis prohibition.

"A drug is a drug," said one of the less than 24 percent percent of respondents who opposed allowing cannabis business in Skokie. "I don't want to encounter anyone driving or walking around, who has been smoking it."

Several others called for lower taxes to cut down on the profits available to black market merchants.

"Taxes are too high, if Illinois wants to be competitive with private sellers, they need to lower taxes and make flowers readily available," one said.

Another respondent had an idea for raising taxes, but only for out-of-state buyer, who can purchase and possess half as much as Illinois residents: "Charge extra to the cheeseheads and Hoosiers coming to IL for weed."