Highland residents don’t want town to ‘become known as a pothead community’

More residents protested the Highland City Council’s vote to allow a marijuana dispensary as the council considered sending the issue to a referendum.

Council members have taken heavy criticism since voting Nov. 4 to approve a permit process for a marijuana dispensary in town after it becomes legal Jan. 1. Councilwoman Peggy Bellm said she voted in favor of the ordinance because if a dispensary wanted to come to town, she wanted to have control over its location, hours and other aspects.

“We can’t just ignore it,” Bellm said. “Many people have said they think this is something we need to do to protect ourselves. They can’t go next to a school, they can’t stay open until midnight.”

Chief Chris Conrad pointed out that if the council had not voted at all, it would be the same as allowing dispensaries with no oversight or regulation.

However, the city does have the option to forbid it entirely. Councilman John Hipskind said he believes that’s a question that should go to the public as a referendum.

“We don’t have to let it in our back yard if we don’t have to,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a good look for Highland.”

The council chambers were once again filled to standing room with at least 60 attendees, and all who spoke were opposed to allowing a dispensary in Highland.

“We moved here because of the small town ... and the great school system,” said resident Mary McWhorter. “We don’t have to disrupt our town because Chicago has this and the governor says that we can ... We need to keep our town the way it is: The small town, nice and clean. We don’t need this cannabis dispensary to bring people in.”

Sandra Robinson said as a nurse and as a parent, she is strongly opposed to it.

“It breaks my heart to think our council might make a decision that puts our youth at risk,” she said. “Doesn’t anyone remember the D.A.R.E. program? ... Just say no! What’s happened to that?”

Robinson said while the state may make it legal, she doesn’t believe Highland should allow it.

“I am shocked that some of us don’t feel like we can stand and say ‘no, we don’t agree,’” she said. “Where do we draw the line? ... What if it’s prostitution and a brothel? If Springfield allows that, where do we draw the line?”

Resident Nick Martin said local government’s job is to reflect the values of the people they represent.

“You all get to be the front line of the values of Highland,” he said. “Whether they align with Chicago’s values or not, you get to share the values of Highland. You have the ability and leadership capability to say no to something being given to us from the ... state level.”

Resident John Geismann said he hopes the council will change its vote.

“Don’t authorize it. Don’t become known as a pothead community, and I think that’s where you’re headed,” Geisman said.

Vote on allowing a dispensary forthcoming

The ordinances on the council’s agenda Dec. 2 were related to the marijuana issue, but not the question of whether to allow a dispensary in Highland. Whether or not a dispensary is opened, marijuana will be legal statewide, including recreational and medicinal use.

The council voted Dec. 2 to add marijuana to its ordinances that already control tobacco and alcohol, requiring it cannot be smoked in public or be sold to minors, among others. Those measures were unanimously approved.

The council will vote at its next meeting Monday, Dec. 16, whether to send the question to the voters. By law it has to be an advisory referendum, meaning the council would not be legally bound by the result. City Attorney Michael McGinley said it was not permissible to poll the council in session about whether they would choose to follow the result of the referendum, because that question was not part of the agenda.

“I can tell you that I will,” said Mayor Joe Michaelis.

In the meantime, Conrad said his officers are being trained to recognize and document marijuana intoxication on DUI traffic stops and meeting with landlords regarding their legal rights concerning marijuana on their properties.

This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 5:25 PM.