LEMONT, IL — After a public workshop meeting discussing recreational cannabis, the Lemont village board has directed staff to prepare an amendment to allow cannabis establishments in certain business districts. According to a Q and A on the village website, the dispensaries will generally only be allowed on the periphery of town and away from schools.
Since the amendment is a change to Lemont’s Unified Development Ordinance, it must go through a review by the planning and zoning commission and a committee of the whole, before approval by the village board. The planning and zoning commission will meet Nov. 6 to discuss the amendment, and the recommendation will then be heard at the committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 18.
If the amendment is approved, it does not necessarily mean a dispensary will come to Lemont.
„The location of the establishments in Lemont remains to be seen. Companies are evaluating sites against one another and will likely make decisions based on being allowed to locate and other decisions similar to retail,” the village said.
Lemont joins nearby Darien as one of the few communities in the area who is looking to allow dispensaries. Lockport, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Orland Park, Naperville, Mokena, Frankfort, and unincorporated DuPage County have all banned recreational cannabis dispensaries in their boundaries.
Joliet, Aurora and Chicago have also approved allowing recreational cannabis dispensaries.
The sale of recreational cannabis and the consumption of cannabis will be legal Jan. 1, 2020.