CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — In a vote delayed from last week's City Council meeting, Chicago aldermen have approved a measure that will mean some cannabis dealers will be able to set up shop downtown.
The City Council voted 33 to 13 to change the rules and now allow pot dispensaries in much of the downtown area. And it's intended that most of those license holders will be African American and Latino.
Except Ald. Sophia King of the 4th Ward pointed out no minorities have opened cannabis businesses yet under rules meant to benefit them.
"Springfield and the city still have the opportunity to get this right and it's not about holding anybody hostage because we could do it in a day, we could do it overnight. It's really just about changing a few things. In the city, we can change what it means to be a social-equity applicant," King said.
But Ald. Brendan Reilly, in whose ward the shops would be, urged a yes vote to benefit minority entrepreneurs and the city.
"Just remember, every dollar we find in revenue from cannabis is one less dollar we have to go and ask people to pay on their property taxes. So we have a real interest as a city in this industry doing well," Reilly said.
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