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Community group says Will County rerouted cannabis funds away from impacted neighborhoods
Summary
Joliet Unity Movement publicly criticized the Will County Board's November vote to reallocate cannabis tax revenue away from communities disproportionately affected by past drug policies, and called for a transparent competitive NOFO process.
At the Dec. 2025 special meeting of the Will County Board, Amy Sanchez, speaking for the Joliet Unity Movement, urged the board to reconsider a November allocation of cannabis tax dollars that she said diverted funds from communities most harmed by past drug policies.
"We denounce Will County Board's vote, amendment on the November 20 meeting," Sanchez said, urging the board to "prioritize disproportionately impacted communities and establish a transparent, competitive, NOFO process for all cannabis related allocations." She said the county's majority ended debate and limited public accountability during the earlier vote.
Sanchez told the board that the R3 (Restore, Reinvest, Renew) framework was intended to repair harm in neighborhoods affected by mass incarceration and disinvestment, and she argued that the funds should be used for that purpose even if the county is not legally restricted from using funds differently. "These actions limit accountability," she said, and asked the board to "remember your why for why you ran for public office."
No formal board action to reverse the November allocation was taken at the special meeting. Several board members acknowledged public concerns about transparency and said they would consider structural changes to committees and reporting to increase public oversight of special funds.
