Portion of McLean County pot sales earmarked for mental health funding

Posted on February 19, 2020
Recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois Jan. 1. (Photo Pixabay)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Some of the revenue McLean County government might receive from sales of recreational marijuana will go toward local mental health programs.

The McLean County Board Tuesday night voted 19-1 with one abstention to levy the maximum three percent tax on pot sold in municipalities like Bloomington-Normal, and 3.75 percent in unincorporated areas, according to our news partner Heart of Illinois ABC.

No one knows how much the sales tax will generate for the county, but 35 percent of the revenue must be spent to fund mental health programs, according to an amendment introduced by board member Carlo Robustelli.

The board adopted Robustelli’s amendment on a 14-5 vote. Robustelli said mental health funding is county government’s top priority.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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