FORSYTH, Ill. (WAND) — On Tuesday, the Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees approved a vote to move forward with amending an ordinance so that the village can accommodate cannabis dispensaries.  

However, Forsyth isn't the first community to make the controversial decision. In 2019, the Village of Harristown started making moves to allow cannabis dispensaries in village limits. Mayor Evelyn Deverell said that the years of work is finally paying off. "It's a significant source of income. We also have a lot of residents who use the dispensary." explained Deverell. "There are a lot of older citizens who use the dispensary for pain relief. In the long run, it has been well worth the work, even though it was it was a hill to climb."

The ordinance that the Forsyth Board of Trustees is currently debating over would allow cannabis sales in the village limits solely through cannabis dispensaries. It would not allow for groweries or any other commercial locations to sell cannabis.

Mayor Jim Peck said that the biggest draw of allowing dispensaries within the village would be the tax benefits. "It's the tax revenue that it would generate. It's a sizeable amount." said Peck. 

Since the vote to continue passed at Tuesday night's meeting, the amendment will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Committee. In the following weeks, the completed amendment will go to vote with the Board of Trustees.

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