After a moratorium that ended up lasting more than two years, Gurnee will again allow retailers that sell smoke, vape and hookah products to open up shop in the village.
The Village Council Monday unanimously approved an ordinance that allows the establishment of businesses to sell such products. The previous moratorium applied to businesses that sold smoke, vape and hookah products, and was set to expire Feb. 16.
“We put it into place at that time due to concerns regarding the health impacts that some of the establishments could have on the community,” Village Administrator Patrick Muetz said. “The pause was to give us a chance to look at it from a more regulatory perspective, and then as we started to get into that COVID hit, and unfortunately this moved down the list of priorities.”
Assistant Village Administrator Jack Linehan said that while Gurnee had a moratorium, the existing businesses that sold smoke, vape and hookah products were allowed to continue operating, but no new businesses could sell those products.
During the meeting, the board approved a temporary license that will be issued to the 22 retail businesses currently selling smoke, vape and hookah products within Gurnee.
The temporary license expires at the end of April. After that, the businesses can reapply for a tobacco license that will begin May 1, and will last for one year. They will have to renew the license on an annual basis.
“The intent is not to preclude any of those that are currently operating, so all of those will be issued a license,” Muetz said. “Any new business after that point and time will need to fill out an application and come before the board for approval.”
The ordinance contains two classifications for licenses — one for businesses in which tobacco or other nicotine products make up less than half of the business’ sales; and one for when selling smoke, vape and hookah products is the primary source of revenue for the business.
The ordinance also stipulates that businesses cannot sell any tobacco or nicotine product to anyone under the age of 21, and businesses have to have all of their tobacco or nicotine products in a location in the store that is not accessible without the assistance of an employee.
Muetz said that Gurnee will treat the licenses similar to how liquor licenses operate in the village.
“[There will be] an application process, a background check by the police department and then they’ll come before the Village Board,” he said.
