Recreational Cannabis

It may still be a while until recreational cannabis sales begin in Bloomington-Normal.

Bloomington-Normal is one step closer to getting its first recreational cannabis retailer.

Potential recreational cannabis businesses now know where in Normal they can and cannot locate.

Thanks to expected modest economic growth, the City of Bloomington will hold property taxes steady again next year.

The zoning amendment that will go before the Normal Town Council for consideration Nov. 18 would allow cannabis-related businesses to locate in the town — with restrictions.

The legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis remains such a hot-button issue that even a procedural step generated plenty of discussion at Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting.

An intended stand on principle switched to a measure of practicality for Scott Preston during Monday’s Normal Town Council meeting, allowing plans for the Blackstone Trails subdivision to move forward.

As Normal begins to consider how it wants to approach the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana, Town Council members hope to get public input from the business and law enforcement communities.

Businesses will have to change, well, the way they do business after recreational cannabis use becomes legal in January. Till now, simple drug-screening tests have helped employers maintain a drug-free workplace. After January it won't be that simple at all.