Editorial board: We all have a stake in how new marijuana law plays out

Headlines over which suburbs would allow the sale of recreational marijuana - and which would ban it - gave us whiplash in the past few months.

Schaumburg gave pot sales a thumbs-up; Arlington Heights gave them a thumbs-down.

Mundelein opted in; Libertyville opted out.

Aurora voted yes; Naperville voted no.

And so it went, until we practically needed a scorecard to track where marijuana could be sold when it became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1.

That day is finally here, even if questions and serious concerns remain.

Yes, restrictions are in place. You must be 21 or older to purchase or possess pot, and the amounts are limited by law.

But to be clear, even towns that voted against allowing sales within their borders will feel the impact of legalization. Officials may have said no to pot shops, but they can't ban marijuana use if residents buy it elsewhere.

And their law enforcement agencies will be tasked with trying to stop those who defy the law - and risk lives - by driving high.

That's why we initially urged the Illinois General Assembly not to rush into legalizing pot.

Then, once the new law passed, we urged communities to weigh the consequences of allowing pot sales and to resist the temptation to claim a share of the tax dollars that pot will provide.

Some suburbs did resist, some did not and others have yet to decide.

While we still have serious concerns about allowing recreational marijuana, we acknowledge that we all have an important part to play in what comes next - and a crucial interest in the safety of our communities.

First, we need to fully understand the law and its restrictions, including a ban on usage in public places. We need to know the side effects and potential for harm before heading to the nearest pot shop. We need to consider employment policies.

We need to remember that what is now legal in Illinois is not in neighboring Wisconsin and other states.

We need to back up - even encourage - the choice to steer clear of a product that experts say is not without risks.

We need to make sure that our children remain safe, that they aren't accidentally exposed to marijuana via such temptations as pot-laced brownies or colorful gummies.

And we need to commit to not getting behind the wheel while impaired.

Ever.

Today, Illinois joins Colorado, California, Michigan and other states that have legalized marijuana. Whether you embrace that change or lament it, we all have a stake in how it plays out.