At a special meeting of the DeWitt County Board's Land Use Committee, approval was granted for sales in the unincorporated areas of DeWitt County.

Chairman Terry Ferguson weighed in on the approval. He feels the business of recreational marijuana belongs in the larger communities.

State law allows only one certified vendor of marijuana sales per County and Ferguson calls any notion of the sales happening in the country ridiculous. He is taking a stance along with side law enforcement groups and doesn't feel it isn't in the best interest of local businesses. 

According to Ferguson, ethics preclude money for those that believe the County needs to be more progressive. Addressing both allowing marijuana sales in DeWitt County and the wind farm project, which Ferguson's Land Use Committee addressed last week, it is a matter of different issues.

Just like last week's vote to send the RPC the current form of the Tradewind Energy project in DeWitt County despite concerns from the County Zoning Administrator, the Land Use Committee voted 3-2 approving marijuana sales in the unincorporated areas of DeWitt County with Jay Wickenhauser, Camille Redman and Cole Ritter voting favor and Melonie Tilley and Ferguson voting against.

As for the issue of sales of recreational marijuana sales in DeWitt County, the Land Use Committee will ask for a vote of the full board for approval and if that happens, the Regional Planning Commission will be charged with determining regulations.