Rockford City Council rejects proposal to allow cannabis lounges

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members on Monday rejected a proposal to allow state-licensed dispensaries to set up Rockford’s first cannabis lounges.

Aldermen voted 8-3 against establishing rules that would allow for such lounges, where you can sit and smoke or consume marijuana in a social setting. Aldermen Jonathan Logemann, Gabrielle Torina and Janessa Wilkins voted in favor of the proposal.

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Proponents have argued the lounges create a safe and legal environment for adults to consume cannabis away from minors. They also say it offers a regulated setting for education and social interaction.

Opponents raised concern about the potential for lounges to cause issues with intoxicated driving. They also raised issue with potential harmful side effects to your health.

“How can smoking cigarettes be unlawful in the workplace, bars, restaurants and public buildings, yet smoking marijuana that has a very similar toxic – an unhealthy side as cigarettes – is under consideration for approval?” Robert Pace said during public comment. He was one of three residents, including County Board member John Butitta, who spoke against the proposal.

The city’s proposed rules required lounges to be open by appointment only, and appointments would last no more than two hours. Groups must also tell the dispensary who will serve as their designated driver. That driver will have cannabis products removed from their table at least 30 minutes before leaving.

Opponents also said there are still too few communities running cannabis lounges for Rockfordians to know if has been safely implemented elsewhere. The city based its regulations on four communities — Mundelein, Carbondale, Wheeling and Sesser — that previously adopted rules for the lounges.

The council’s most outspoken critics were Aldermen Kevin Frost and Tim Durkee. No one spoke in favor of the proposal.

“Other than a few very rare medical instances, the use of marijuana is basically to get high and be disoriented, to be compromised and all of those features – that’s why people do it,” Durkee said. “This makes absolutely no sense to me: It makes no sense to me as a resident of Rockford, (and) it makes no sense to me as a physician.”

Frost raised concerns about the lack of ability to measure a driver’s level of impairment after they have used cannabis.

“Until the technology catches up to this industry, which will probably be here sooner than later, and then I would more than likely change my vote,” Frost said. “Until someone can be tested leaving, I’m definitely not going to be in favor of allowing someone to be, basically, instantly impaired and then get in a vehicle.”

The state allowed cannabis consumption lounges when lawmakers approved recreational cannabis in 2020, but they’re only permitted if local governments establish rules to authorize it. The lounges must be attached to a state-licensed dispensary: Lyfe Dispensary, 6774 Troy Drive, Mapleglen Care Center, 4777 Stenstrom Road, and Sunnyside, 2696 McFarland Road.

Lyfe, which brought forward a request for the city to consider establishing the rules, had hoped to create a lounge in space on the east end of its dispensary if the measure was approved.

Any dispensary wishing to run a lounge would have had to go back before council for separate approval of a license similarly to how liquor licenses are approved.

Cannabis consumption rules

Here’s a quick look at the proposed rules for cannabis consumption lounges in the city.

• Cannabis consumption lounges must be operated by and attached to a state-licensed dispensary
• Lounges may operate during the hours of the dispensary and up to two hours after the dispensary closes, but no later than midnight.
• Patrons must make a reservation that lasts no more than two hours. (That two-hour limit is waived for special events when the lounge is rented in its entirety.)
• Groups must confirm a designated driver with the operator of the lounge.
• Lounges cannot operate in conjunction with a bar
• Consumption in an outdoor patio is prohibited unless specifically approved by the city in a site plan.
• All cannabis must be purchased on site. No bring-your-own-cannabis is allowed.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas