JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County Board passed an ordinance allowing cannabis growing and dispensing facilities in rural parts of the county at a special meeting Monday night. The board voted 8-3 to allow the facilities, and county board chair Cliff Lindemann says the ordinance makes clear of the security requirements for the facilities for the safety of all involved.

Lindemann says cannabis is going to be grown in Illinois no matter what, and the county wanted to have a way to recoup any costs that could come from the new state law.

The Mt. Vernon City Council voted to allow cannabis in city limits late last year, and the Jefferson County Board had voted to tax cannabis at the maximum rate of 3.75% earlier this year. Currently there are two planned dispensaries coming to Mt. Vernon, and Lindemann says there is interest in a growing facility coming to a rural part of the county.