Highland residents will get vote on marijuana dispensary, city council decides

Highland residents will vote whether to allow a recreational marijuana dispensary in town — at least as advice to their city council.

The dispensary question has been controversial and spurred hours of debate in recent council meetings. 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.

On Monday, the city council voted 4-0 to send the question to an advisory referendum on the next ballot. Residents will be able to vote whether to allow a dispensary in town.

As an advisory referendum, the council is not legally bound by the results of the vote. At its last meeting, residents called for a promise from the council they would do so any way, and city attorney Michael McGinley said it was not permissible for them to take such a poll.

Each Illinois city has been facing this question since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law making recreational marijuana legal in Illinois. If a municipality did nothing, it was the same as opting in without oversight or regulation, according to Highland Police Chief Chris Conrad. So each municipality had a choice to opt in with regulations and restrictions as to location, hours, etc., or to opt out entirely, forcing residents to go to other towns for their supplies.

Highland opted for the former, allowing dispensaries subject to a permit process that must go before the city council with limited zoning, among other restrictions. But the next two council meetings were filled with residents criticizing the decision, arguing it would lead to higher crime and drug problems in Highland.

“Just say no! What’s happened to that?” asked resident Sandra Robinson.

Others said it was a decline in values for Highland.

“Don’t become known as a pothead community,” said resident John Geismann.

Meeting brings out both sides

City administrator Mark Latham said there were speakers on both sides of the issue at Monday’s meeting, while speakers at previous meetings have been unanimously opposed. Councilman John Hipskind, who was the sole no vote on the original decision to allow the dispensary, said he was pleased it will go to the referendum.

“This is a significant issue that impacts all of Highland,” he said. “This kind of vote is why referendums exist. I will do everything in my power to help facilitate the referendum and look forward to engaging with the community on the issue.”

Other councilmen could not be immediately reached for comment.

In the meantime, the original ordinance stands, which includes treating marijuana similarly to alcohol and tobacco, requiring it cannot be smoked in public or be sold to minors, among others.

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 4:24 PM.