Members of the Washington City Council got an earful Monday from opponents of what would be the city's first adult-use cannabis dispensary.
The dispensary is planned to be built by Key Cannabis at the intersection of Centennial Drive and McClugage Road, next to a new O'Reilly's Auto Parts location.
Although there was no agenda item about the dispensary Monday, eight residents spoke out against the facility during public comment. A first reading of an ordinance approving Key Cannabis' special-use request will be held April 20.
One of those who spoke out was Megan Pacelli, a 15-year Washington resident and special education teacher at Washington Community High School.
"There's a reason Metamora, Eureka, Tremont, Morton and other communities do not have dispensaries," said Pacelli, who was overcome by emotion during her presentation. "It's a risky, harmful and shameful way to increase tax revenue. Our city does not need drug money to be successful."
Pacelli stopped momentarily to compose herself when she noted that the dispensary would be visible by her children and other children at their school bus stops. She said the Washington dispensary would essentially be a "pot shop" in city's backyard.
Robin Leasure said she lives just 380 feet from the proposed dispensary and that concerns her.
She said she also worries about being able to sell her home someday "with a marijuana dispensary next door," even though she doesn't want to leave Washington.
"But I don't care where a dispensary would be located in Washington. I'd be against it," she said.
Among other concerns expressed by the speakers were the dispensary staining Washington's reputation as a safe and family-friendly community, increased traffic in the vicinity, and more impaired drivers and pedestrians in the city.
Mike Clark said the dispensary would "normalize drug use" for the city's youth.
"Doing the right thing isn't always the popular thing," Susan Starling told the elected officials.
A few speakers said they represent the views of many Washington residents who oppose the dispensary.
Council members acknowledged they have received emails and phone calls from other opponents.
The dispensary has cleared its initial hurdles in the city. Key Cannabis' special-use request was unanimously recommended for approval by the council by the Planning & Zoning Commission at its April meeting.
In addition to compliance with city and state regulations, the commission requested that Key Cannabis not use graphic depictions of cannabis plants or slang terminology in its signage – only "cannabis" and "marijuana" are allowed – and the special-use is only for Key Cannabis.
The special-use cannot be transferred without council approval.
City staff also has recommended approval of the special-use, saying the dispensary would be in an appropriate location and it would have no adverse impact on neighboring properties.
The city's cannabis dispensary regulations, enacted in 2019 in advance of a 2020 state law allowing regulated adult-use cannabis sales, include 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. operating hours and no outdoor seating or drive-through sales and services.
Washington's regulations are largely based on an Illinois Municipal League model and mirror an East Peoria ordinance.
In addition to the 9% sales tax that's added to purchases in Washington, the city would benefit from a 3% sales tax on purchases at the dispensary.
Key Cannabis, which is the first company to apply for a cannabis dispensary in Washington, has a location in Carbondale and is looking to expand to two other locations in the state.
Nearby Washington, there are six cannabis dispensaries in Peoria, three in East Peoria and one in Pekin.
