Wheaton Says No To Recreational Marijuana Businesses

WHEATON, IL — The Wheaton City Council has made it clear they do not want recreational cannabis businesses in the city. With brief discussion before the final vote, the council voted Monday unanimously in favor of an ordinance that bans recreational cannabis businesses when marijuana becomes legal for adult use throughout Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020.

The prohibition includes not only retail businesses, but craft growers and processing and transportation organizations as well.

Before the vote was taken, two city council members expressed that they're looking ahead to learning about how cannabis sales will affect those municipalities who choose to opt in.

"I'd like the city council to monitor the tax portion of this law and the enforcement portion of this law" and how they impact neighboring communities, Council Member Erica Bray-Parker said.

Bray-Parker suggested revisiting the opt-out ordinance in a year after more data has been collected showing how neighboring towns are affected.

No residents opted to speak during the public comment portion about cannabis sales, which resulted in a quick, unanimous vote that took less than 5 minutes.

This was brief, especially when compared to nearby Downers Grove, where public comment clocked in at right around three hours.

Wheaton joins Lisle, Downers Grove, and Naperville in opting out. Nearby Glen Ellyn will hold a public meeting about opting in or out of cannabis sales on Oct. 10.