By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington residents are being asked to contact their city council members as a task force examines the community impact of selling marijuana for recreational use.
The request comes from Ward 9 Council Member Kimberly Bray, who represents parts of Bloomington’s northeast side. She’s convinced most people in the city are opposed to allowing cannabis sales.
“I’m asking everyone to reach out to their city council members and let them know their thoughts on the issue, and ask the hard questions because it’s the city council and our ward system that represents the multiple sectors of our city, and there are multiple perspectives,” said Bray.
Ultimately, Bray noted the council will make the key choices how the city implements the state’s new cannabis law, perhaps imposing taxes on marijuana sales, or joining communities like Decatur and Naperville, which decided to ban marijuana sales for recreational purposes.
After attending Bloomington’s first cannabis task force meeting, Bray said she finds wisdom in Decatur’s 6-1 council vote against pot sales.
“I think that when you invest like Decatur has done in doing revitalization and creating opportunity in the community, you don’t do a 180 (degree) direction and add something that will drain resources and cause challenges to the community by adding additional demands for resources like this will do,” Bray also said.
Bloomington’s debate over cannabis sales comes as Normal’s Town Council holds its first public meeting on the issue.
Normal’s town staff is scheduled to make a presentation, to be followed by council members’ discussion, at a work session set for Monday at 5 p.m., prior to the regular 7 p.m. town council meeting.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
