Peoria County officials are looking into how to tax, zone and regulate recreational cannabis sales.
Discussion on the matter began in a sub-committee Tuesday. County Administrator Scott Sorrel told board members that marijuana sales would add revenue to county coffers, taxed at 3-percent. But regardless of what the county decides to do, cities like Peoria, Chillicothe and Hanna City would make their own rules.
According to the Peoria Journal Star, board member Brian Elsasser said he would have a hard time supporting the county giving consent to recreational cannabis sales.
“I’d like to be the first county to ban the sale of cannabis in the state of Illinois. I can’t support something that would possibly negatively impact our young people,” Elsasser said.
Dr. Eden Blair, another board member, said she wanted more information on liability issues related to recreational marijuana sales.
No action will be taken before the Peoria County Board meets again in September. But, a new state law going into effect January 1, 2020, will require the county to pass some kind of legislation.
