FREE
1 • Thursday, January 19, 2017 - The Independent
NEW PROGRAMS!
Independent Bensenville
Dance Recital Classes Fine Arts Youth Athletics Fitness Classes
Registration is underway!
Deer Grove Leisure Center 1000 W. Wood St. | 630-76 6-7015 bensenvilleparkdistrict.org
also serving Wood Dale
VOL. 14 • NO. 28
Visit our website for detai ls about our Water Park an d Fitness Pass Sales and Special Ev ents.
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
301998
TAKE ONE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017
Marijuana expert: Legal weed inevitable in Illinois, likely soon ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
Illinois will see legal recreational marijuana eventually, according to one industry expert. Chris Stone is the CEO of HCI Alternatives in Springfield. He said legal recreational marijuana became almost inevitable after Illinois lawmakers approved medical marijuana back in 2013. “When you do a medical program, it’s usually about five or six years before you implement a recreational program,” Stone said. While he expects a strong push toward legalization from lawmakers and advocates in the 2018 legislative session, since that is an election year, Stone said the best chances for success are likely to see lawmakers approve a recreational program in 2019 and start operations in 2020. A new report also lists Illinois as one of the 15 states most likely to legalize marijuana next. Stone said he’d like to think that lawmakers are changing how they view marijuana, but he said it’s likely the hundreds of millions of dollars a year in tax money that recreational marijuana could generate that will drive legalization. “We live in a state that doesn’t have, what I would consider, a balanced budget. It’s probably $3 billion out of whack,” Stone said. “We live in a state that hasn’t had a capital bill to be able to build roads and bridges in almost 10 years. These are the things that definitely move the needle in terms of a recreational program, especially if you look at other states.” If you add marijuana sales, tourism dollars, and the money that police departments and jails would save by not having to arrest and prosecute marijuana crimes, Stone said recreational marijuana could be worth $1 billion a year to the state of Illinois.
Bensenville Community Public Library to host Holiday Open House Friday, Dec. 8 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Join Library staff for the annual Holiday Open House. They will be joined by the caroling quartet The Vagabond Singers, as well as the jazz quintet Zazz, who will play all of your holiday favorites. While you listen, enjoy a wide variety of holiday treats by the fireplace or make holiday cards in the meeting room. This is one holiday event you won’t want to miss. The Library is located at 200 S. Church Road, Bensenville. See more events inside.
DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Bensenville Independent
Santa greets the youngsters
Santa Claus was front and center in the Village Hall Rotunda, where he had the best seat in the house for greeting all the children who came to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. It was all part of Addison’s annual tree-lighting event on Friday, Dec. 1.
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports �������������������� 16 Worship Directory....8 Classifieds..........20-21
A
UTO DVANTAGE
CAR CARE CENTER FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE Across From Dapper’s Restaurant
Addison • 885 W. Lake St. 272551
(1-1/2 mile East of Route 53)
630-543-1397 Mon.-Fri. 8-6 • Sat. 8-3
We will BEAT any competitors written estimate by 10% plus FREE Oil Change Ask manager for details.
Why go anywhere else when you can SAVE MORE MONEY at Auto Advantage.
Oil Change Special Includes Lube and New Filter ly
n wO No
19.95
$
WOW!
Most passenger vehicles. Up to 5 quarts SW30 premium motor oil, lube and new filter.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC