House passes bill to allow recreational pot sales in Buffalo Grove
State representatives passed a bill Tuesday that could clear the way for Buffalo Grove's medical cannabis dispensary to begin selling recreational marijuana.
Proposed by Rep. Daniel Didech, a Democrat from Buffalo Grove, the measure would allow the Sunnyside dispensary to sell pot for recreational use out of its new location at 830 Milwaukee Ave.
Sunnyside had a recreational license for its previous location, 1623 Barclay Blvd., but its move required it go to the end of the line and reapply for state approval, according to the interpretation of existing state law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office.
Didech introduced a bill earlier this year that would have allowed Sunnyside to begin recreational sales immediately at the new address. A compromise version was incorporated into another bill approved Tuesday by the House in a 70-33 vote.
Under the terms of the compromise, if approved by the state Senate and signed by Pritzker, Sunnyside can apply to sell recreational cannabis in 90 days. The application would automatically be approved 30 days later, as long as the business complied with all other state requirements.
"The tax revenue generated by the Buffalo Grove dispensary will help fund much needed infrastructure improvements, support our police and fire services, and avert unnecessary property tax increases," Didech said in a news release. "I am grateful that Buffalo Grove village officials are prioritizing the economic development of our community, and I will keep fighting to ensure the state of Illinois is supportive of their efforts."
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, a Democrat from Northbrook, added, "We have made it very clear to the governor and his staff for nearly a year and a half that this is one of our top priorities."