Vote Favors Starting Zoning Process For St. Charles Pot Retailers

ST. CHARLES, IL — During a Monday government operations committee meeting in St. Charles, committee members voted 6 to 3 in favor of beginning the zoning process for up to two recreational cannabis dispensaries to run in the city, following a motion by Alderman Lora Vitek, according to the Daily Herald. Vitek's motion to begin amending St. Charles' zoning code for recreational marijuana sales came with several terms, including prohibiting production and consumption on-site at dispensaries, and limiting their locations to regional and community business and zoning districts, the Daily Herald said.

The zoning process includes bringing the proposal to the plan commission and holding a public hearing before it goes to the planning and development committee. A final decision would then be made by city council members, the news report added.

Monday night's discussion and public hearing was expected in the city council chambers, 2 E. Main Street, according to an agenda item from the City of St. Charles. The topic was initially brought up during an Aug. 5 session in city council chambers.

Whether recreational marijuana should be sold within St. Charles once it becomes legal for use across the state on Jan. 1 has become a familiar topic across the Chicago suburbs.

During a Monday, Aug. 5 meeting, city staff also discussed possible issues related to city finances, public safety and others, should the sale of recreational cannabis be legalized in St. Charles.

Ahead of Monday night's meeting, Patch reached out to readers in St. Charles, asking: Do you think recreational marijuana should be sold in St. Charles once it becomes legal for use across the state on Jan. 1?

RELATED: Recreational Cannabis Sales In St. Charles: Discussion Date

Jon, a community member, replied, "Something like this should have a special vote from St. Charles residents, not from just a few aldermen for over 35,000 residents. Don’t forget they work for us, we pay their salaries, and their pensions."

>> Tell us what you think should be done in the replies.

Questions up for debate include cannabis location limitations, underage penalties, field test equipment and several more.

Marijuana will be available over the counter to more than 12 million people in Illinois — more than the population of Washington and Oregon combined and twice as many people as Colorado — starting Jan. 1. Patch recently reported the law gives a head start to established medical marijuana dispensaries for the initial year of legal weed by allowing them first crack at the recreational market.

(See map of Illinois and Chicago suburb cannabis dispensaries)

More information and updates: stcharlesil.gov