EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Two ordinances approved by the East Peoria City Council Tuesday night cleared the way for a new cannabis dispensary in the city.
Both measures were approved by 4-1 votes. The first amended the city code to increase the number of licenses for cannabis dispensing from two to three. The other is a conditional use permit needed to operate.
The dispensary will occupy the vacant former Associated Bank location at 406 W. Camp Street.
Commissioner Michael Sutherland voted against the license increase, citing that he did not approve of government legalizing cannabis and “making money off people’s habits.”
But Sutherland voted yes on the conditional use permit, saying he did not want to interfere in what individuals sell to each other.
“Somebody wants to sell property to somebody that does something I disagree with, they have the right,” Sutherland said. “I have the right to disagree with it. But I don’t have the right to stop their freedom of purchasing or selling something.”
Sutherland added he approved the permit because there were few legal locations that a cannabis dispensary could be located in East Peoria.
The city estimates the dispensary will have more than 250 customers daily and be open seven days a week.
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