Voters in Illinois’ Most Populated County Approve Marijuana Legalization Referendum
Voters in Cook County, which includes Chicago, have overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding referendum calling for the legalization of marijuana.
With over 63% voting in favor, Cook County voters approved the resolution asking: “Shall the State of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?”
The resolution, which was supported by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, isn’t legally binding, meaning it will have no effect on the county’s marijuana laws. However, it does give state lawmakers a good indication of how strong support is for legalization among a very large chunk of voters.
Cook County is by far the most populated county in Illinois, with approximately 5.2 million residents. This is over five times the population of the state’s second largest county, DuPage County (around 930,000).