CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot on Friday said she expects the City Council next week to pass an ordinance licensing establishments where people can consume marijuana on-site.
Some African-American aldermen had been resisting Lightfoot's plan to license consumption places because none of those shops would be on the South and West Sides.
"They have given us feedback but we do need to move forward," Lightfoot said.
The alderman fear there could be a new wave of marijuana arrests, when people in less affluent neighborhoods try to smoke pot where they live.
"It's a question of when not if because we have to give people a legitimate place where they can go and consume without worries or something happening to them," she said.
The mayor said she's sympathetic with the concerns but insists it's important to get some consumption places open. She expects the ordinance to be called next week for City Council consideration.
That first step is licensing some retail tobacco shops. Lightfoot said she's listening to aldermens' suggestions about possible ordinance changes.
