Grayslake to consider yearlong recreational marijuana sales ban

Grayslake village board members on Tuesday will discuss banning the sale of recreational marijuana - which will become legal in Illinois on Jan. 1 - for at least one year.

Grayslake Assistant Village Manager Brett Kryska said the board first discussed a moratorium at a meeting July 16.

"Assuming they adopt the ordinance tomorrow, they would basically ban marijuana sales for now," Kryska said. "Then they would revisit the discussion after they see how it's playing out in other towns who allow it."

The ordinance calls for the topic to be discussed again in the first quarter of 2021, Kryska said.

Grayslake isn't alone in debating the issue. Some suburbs are studying whether to allow marijuana stores, while Naperville, Lake Barrington and Bloomingdale plan to officially ban sales.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was passed by state lawmakers on May 31 and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 25. Municipalities can choose to not allow marijuana stores within their boundaries, or they can enact "reasonable" zoning ordinances and regulate how many and where they are. That can include minimum distances from "sensitive" locations such as colleges and universities, the law states.

The state will issue up to 75 retail dispensary licenses, including 47 in the Chicago area, before May 1. Marijuana retail locations cannot be placed within 1,500 feet of each other, and advertising is prohibited within 1,000 feet of school grounds, parks and playgrounds, recreation and child care centers, public libraries, and game arcades with people under 21. Municipalities that allow marijuana sales can impose local sales taxes up to 3%, according to the law.

Kryska said if the ordinance is passed, the Grayslake board would likely direct the members of the plan commission and zoning board of appeals to study the impact of new marijuana laws and make a recommendation to board members when they decide to revisit the topic.

The village board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at village hall, 10 South Seymour Ave., Grayslake.