BENTON — With recreational marijuana becoming legal in Illinois Jan. 1, Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz said at Monday night’s City Council meeting that there’s just a tremendous amount of hoops to jump through when it comes to the licensing and zoning for the sale and distribution of cannabis.

Mayor Kondritz told those in attendance at the meeting that city officials have been to seminars on this issue including one held Tuesday at Rend Lake. The mayor says it’s going to take some time and effort to see what Benton needs to do about recreational cannabis.

The council unanimously passed the mayor’s motion.