Village right to allow cannabis facility

As a lifelong Mundelein resident, I support the recreational cannabis facility coming to Mundelein. My husband and I both graduated from MHS, our girls attend D75 and we are happy to raise our family here. We enjoy amazing schools, good people and the chance to see our town grow.

Our town is in need of redevelopment, which costs money. There are countless open storefronts around town. Many strip centers with one or two occupants. We have committed to a new facility at the old town hall. Plans are beautiful and we are granting huge tax incentives and cash to the developer. What is to say these spaces will be leased with all the other open spaces in town? It is expected that in 25 years, the town hall project will bring in the tax revenue Mundelein will see in Year One of the cannabis facility.

Liquor, gambling, and cannabis can be dangerous when not controlled properly. There are liquor stores all over Mundelein. Almost every restaurant has gaming machines, many enjoying huge financial returns from them. Liquor and gaming is now legal. How is this so different? Cannabis will be legal, the standards for ensuring safe sales to legal age residents will be the same if not stricter than gaming and liquor.

Declining this opportunity will deny Mundelein growth opportunities, another town will cash in. This will help the community, and maybe we won't have to travel to neighboring towns for one more thing ..."live in Mundelein, dine in Libertyville, movies in Vernon Hills ... Cannabis in Buffalo Grove?" Keep the opportunity for legal cannabis sales here, in Mundelein.

Nicole DeCaluwe-Healy

Mundelein