Adult-use cannabis businesses now permitted in the unincorporated areas of Kane County
KANE COUNTY – Kane County Board members met on April 13 to discuss rescinding an ordinance that prohibited the operation of cannabis business establishments within unincorporated areas of the county.
The original ordinance had previously been adopted in November 2019, but as of current, county officials have determined that cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas of Kane County would not impact law enforcement or regulatory operations.
According to Kane County Board member Cliff Surges, who represents District 21, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain had presented some data points demonstrating no significant increase in crime in areas that permitted adult-use cannabis business establishments.
“I’ve never smoked marijuana. I don’t know much about it. I’m not claiming to in any way, shape or form. So, I had reached out to healthcare professionals, law enforcement, pastors, other community leaders that I represent, from Gilberts, Sleepy Hollow, West Dundee, East Dundee. I think that each of those municipalities did an excellent job of protecting the schools and children and religious institutions in the way that they put things forward,” Surges said of municipalities that allow the sale of adult-use cannabis.
“Ron has come right out and said, ‘We just haven’t had any problems. We haven’t been called in. We’re not coming to the rescue here or there.’ So, for me, I am flipping my vote immediately admittedly to say I voted against it last year. We now have data coming through this year. I’m in favor of this as long as we’re protecting those areas and I believe we have.”
Some board members on the other hand, were not so keen on accepting the proposal regardless of any information presented.
Board member Drew Frasz of District 18 was one example. He claimed that his opponent who ran against him last fall for the seat on the county board, was defeated soundly due to having supported the repeal of the ordinance that would now allow unincorporated areas of Kane County to permit adult-use cannabis businesses to operate.
“I just will point out that three of the four of us that represent the western half of the county are opposing this, and that represents the vast majority of the unincorporated areas in the county,” Frasz said.
Tom Koppie, the Kane County representative for District 9, stated that there are other ramifications to be considered if the ordinance was to be rescinded.
“It’s the younger people that are going to have more access to it than they ever did and I was raised in a culture that it was a very popular pastime and it did not do well for a lot of my peers and friends. It just let on to bigger and bigger things and it’s got an effect whether you want to admit it or not. So, it’s more than just the sheriff’s opinion. It’s a moral opinion also. I will oppose it and I will always oppose it,” Koopie stated.
Madam Chair Corinne Pierog responded to Koopie’s statement in which she explained how upon doing some research on the topic of cannabis, Pierog had a change of heart in permitting its use in the unincorporated areas. Her reasoning behind it had to do in part into how she had seen how beneficial the medical uses of cannabis were in combating pain and other disorders in individuals, while reducing the abuse of opioids.
“To reduce the illegal sale of opioids on the street, especially for people who need that pain reduction to a product that is naturally based, organically based and highly controlled by the state of Illinois, I think it’s something to not diminish the importance of what this cannabis industry can do and we saw from Waubonsee [Community College’s] presentation, that is exactly what they’ll be looking for,” Pierog said.
Kane County District 2 representative Dale Berman, told the board that he has had the most direct experience with the sale of cannabis for the Village of North Aurora. With that being said, he explained that more people are using cannabis for a medical type of situation. Additionally, North Aurora has not seen any negative impact from the sale of cannabis, according to Berman.
“There’s many more uses to it from the standpoint of a drug. [There are] so many other drugs that are being sold to the drug stores. So, I think we look at it as a something that we worry about the youth more than anything else, but it’s not something that is proven, at least in the village’s standpoint, that we certainly have any increase in traffic violations or whatever due to cannabis. So, I think what we’re doing is right in rescinding what we had agreed upon years ago,” Berman said.
Having voiced their opinions, the board had an opportunity to vote on whether the motion to rescind ordinance number 19-415 would pass or not. Only board members Frasz, Koppie, and Barbara Wojnicki, who represents District 15, voted against the new ordinance permitting cannabis businesses in the unincorporated areas of Kane County.
Ultimately, the motion to approve of Ordinance number 21-225 passed. Text amendments were also made to the Kane County Zoning Ordinance stating that adult-use cannabis business establishments are now permitted as special uses in certain districts. The ordinance went into effect immediately upon passage and approval from the board.
“Congratulations for all of you supporting a new business industry that I think is going to provide not only financial resources, but scientific resources here, to Kane County,” Pierog said.
