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Elgin OKs regulations for pot shops

The Elgin City Council approved zoning to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries in town and impose a 3% sales tax on adult-use cannabis products.

The city council's vote Wednesday night was 8-1; Councilman Toby Shaw was the only dissenting voice. The council voted without discussion on Wednesday after debating the issue two weeks ago.

Pot shops will be allowed only in neighborhood business districts, area business districts, and the center city district.

They will require conditional use permits and a 250-foot setback from schools, colleges, day care facilities, group homes, public parks and forest preserve land.

Marijuana cultivation centers, craft growers, and processing and transporting businesses also will require conditional-use permits and the same 250-foot setback. They will be allowed only in the general industrial district, and the office research and industrial district.

So far only 37 existing medical marijuana dispensaries have received early approval "same site" licenses to sell recreational marijuana to adults 21 and over starting Jan. 1. There are no medical marijuana dispensaries in Elgin.

The state is accepting applications for new recreational cannabis businesses through Jan. 2. A total 47 such licenses in the greater Chicago area will be awarded by May 1, and more later.

Any pot shops that want to open in Elgin will have to have a security and lighting plan to be reviewed by the Elgin Police Department. After review by the planning and zoning commission, the city council will have ultimate say on approving conditional-use permits.

Municipalities can decide whether to allow marijuana stores in their towns, but cannot prohibit consumption of marijuana under the law.

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