Batavia's November Ballot To Include Marijuana Sales Question

BATAVIA, IL — City of Batavia officials continued discussing whether to allow recreational cannabis dispensaries in the city during the Committee of the Whole's Tuesday meeting. Residents joined the group and voiced their opinions in City Hall, according to a news release from the City of Batavia. Aldermen ultimately chose to ask residents about allowing the facilities on the November 2020 ballot through a binding referendum question, according to the Daily Herald.

Before Tuesday's meeting, the City said no action would need to be taken if officials said no, but if the answer is yes, several questions would arise, including: "Where dispensaries would be allowed?" "Will recreational dispensaries be a conditional or special use?" and "How many dispensaries will be allowed?"

Related:

• Geneva Officials Approve Marijuana Dispensaries As 'Special Use'
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According to the City, another consideration is that Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke has indicated that he "intends to veto any change to the City Code that would allow recreational cannabis dispensaries," meeting documents state, adding that in if this happens, a two-thirds majority of aldermen (10) would have to vote in favor of overturning his veto for the change to allow recreational dispensaries to be approved.

The Daily Herald reported that on Tuesday, Schielke said a referendum question would leave it up to "the will of the people" to decide, and added that he commended the idea to have people make that decision. City Administrator Laura Newman said it was too late to get the question on the March primary election ballot.

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As of December 30, 2019, neighboring communities St. Charles, Geneva and North Aurora have voted to allow recreational cannabis dispensaries, while Naperville, Wheaton and Sugar Grove have decided not to allow them.

View where you can buy legal Marijuana in Illinois on this Patch map.