Voters to decide about recreational pot sales in Roselle

Roselle voters will soon weigh in on whether recreational marijuana businesses could operate in town.

Village trustees unanimously agreed in December to put two advisory referendum questions on the April 6 ballot. The first question asks if adult-use recreational cannabis sales should be allowed in the village. The second question asks if the village should allow the "craft growing, infusion, cultivation, processing, and transporting" of adult-use recreational cannabis.

While both questions are nonbinding, the outcome will help village officials decide if they should allow businesses operating under Illinois' Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which made recreational use and possession of marijuana by adults legal across the state.

While municipalities can't ban possession of marijuana, they can prohibit its sale in their communities.

Roselle trustees in December 2019 enacted a prohibition of adult-use cannabis businesses within the village. The ban has been extended to June 28 to give village staff additional time to analyze the issue.

Previously, some officials like Trustee Bruce Berkshire were skeptical about the commercial viability of a dispensary in the village. Roselle's zoning rules would not allow for marijuana sales and distribution in areas zoned for recreation, child care, or residential uses.

Trustee David Pileski, who is running for mayor in the upcoming election, has previously said that a former gas station along Irving Park Road would be the most likely location for a dispensary in the area.

Trustee Wayne Domke, who is also running for mayor, said it's important that more input come from residents on the issue.

"It's too important to just leave this decision to six people and a mayor to decide," Domke said.

If a town permits cannabis sales, it's allowed to place local sales taxes of up to 3% on the sales.