Minooka to hold public hearing on recreational marijuana Nov. 26

The village of Minooka will hold a public hearing on the potential sale of recreational marijuana Nov. 26.

Minooka Mayor Pat Brennan said he and the Village Board had discussed the matter at a previous meeting. He said most if not all of the trustees were against allowing the sale of recreational marijuana.

“They just didn’t want it in our town,” Brennan said. “Most of them just said no.”

When the Illinois General Assembly passed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, it allowed municipalities to “opt out” of allowing the commercial sale of recreational marijuana. In Will County, Bolingbrook, Lockport, Mokena, Plainfield and Wilmington have voted to opt out. The Will County Board and New Lenox are debating the issue. Joliet voted to allow a tax on recreational marijuana sales, but also held a public meeting on the issue last week.

Brennan didn’t give many specific reasons regarding why he was personally against allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in the village, but he said he still thinks it’s a “gateway drug.”

“I just think we have a nice community right now and want to keep it that way,” Brennan said.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at Minooka Village Hall, located at 121 McEvilly Road. Brennan said he wasn't sure when the Village Board would vote on opting out. He said if the board doesn't take a vote in late November, then it will likely do so in December.