Renner addresses recreational marijuana sales, task force meets Thursday

Posted on October 16, 2019
Tari Renner
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner spoke Tuesday morning with WJBC’s Scott Miller. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – While Bloomington’s cannabis task force continues to gather information regarding marijuana dispensaries, Mayor Tari Renner predicts the city will opt-in for the chance to sell recreational cannabis.

Some communities in Central Illinois have decided to allow marijuana sales, like Peoria, and others have opted out, such as Decatur.

Renner told WJBC’s Scott Miller regardless of what the Bloomington City Council decides, changes will need to be made as recreational cannabis becomes legal Jan. 1.

“We are going to need new protocol and law enforcement changes regardless of whether or not we opt-in or opt-out,” said Renner.

Bloomington’s cannabis task force is scheduled to meet again Thursday night. The task force is expected to make recommendations whether the city should allow marijuana dispensaries during Monday night’s committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Normal’s Town Council is also weighing the issue.  Town staffers recently recommended that no cannabis dispensaries be located in Uptown Normal.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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