Carbondale city leaders approve sale of recreational marijuana

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) - Carbondale city leaders approved the sale of recreational marijuana within the city limits at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The Carbondale City Council voted 6-to-1 to approve the legal sale of recreational marijuana. The ordinance goes into effect Sept. 1, 2020.

The Illinois Department of Revenue would have to approve Carbondale’s marijuana sale ordinance before June 1, 2020.

The approval of the amended cannabis ordinance will allow the City of Carbondale to collect a tax on all marijuana businesses in the city except for medical marijuana.

Businesses selling marijuana would pay an Occupation Tax, which is three percent of the gross receipts from sales.

Council members who approved the ordinance believe marijuana businesses would have a positive impact and raise tax revenue.

The discussion about recreational marijuana sales in Carbondale started at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

At the meeting, the public weighed-in on what course the city should take.

Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry said hearing from the community was the correct step to take before the council voted on the issue.

“So we will find out what people think," Mayor Henry said. “If they have questions we are going to try and get them answered for them. There’s a lot going on with this. Notes to the bill are still being written, we are hearing now there may be amendments to the bill.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker approved adult-use and possession of recreational marijuana in the state on June 25, 2019.

The measure goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

For additional information about recreational marijuana, zoning, licensing, or social justice click here.

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