St. Clair County sets guidelines for recreational marijuana businesses
People who want to get into the recreational cannabis business in St. Clair County now have a rulebook to study ahead of legalization in 2020.
The county board on Monday night approved an ordinance that establishes requirements for businesses seeking permits for recreational cannabis-related transactions and amends zoning districts.
The ordinance makes it possible for businesses to sell, process, grow and do other cannabis-related businesses through special use permits in certain zoned districts throughout St. Clair County, while providing requirements that the zoning board of appeals can use when deciding whether to approve or deny petitions for the permits.
It also “strictly” prohibits any type of on-site consumption — absorbing, drinking, eating, ingesting or smoking — of marijuana at any cannabis business and bans any type of selling or serving of alcohol or liquor at said establishments.
The general zoning requirements for any type of cannabis business establishment focus mainly on how the business may affect the area, security measures and plans, hours of operation and anticipated number of customers, site design and other considerations.
The ordinance also breaks down different factors the zoning board would consider for specific types of businesses, including craft growers, cultivation centers, dispensing organizations, infusers, processers and transportation organizations.
It is the latest of several moves preparing the county for the coming introduction of recreational cannabis sales across Illinois, following the implementation of a tax on cannabis sales in unincorporated and incorporated parts of St. Clair County.
The move comes just a week after Madison County’s board voted to disallow recreational cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas of the county.
This story was originally published November 25, 2019 at 8:31 PM.