Bloomington, IL Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)

A, added by Ordinance No. 2019-91 alongside the state's legalization of adult-use cannabis. Subsection C, 'Unlawful consumption of cannabis,' lists eight locations where using cannabis or cannabis-infused products is unlawful: a school bus, the grounds of any preschool or primary or secondary school, any correctional facility, any motor vehicle, a private residence used to provide licensed child care or similar social service care, any public place, in close physical proximity to anyone under 21 who is not a registered medical cannabis patient, and any place where smoking is barred under the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

'Public place' is defined in § 28-189 to mean anywhere a person could reasonably be expected to be observed by others, including government-owned or leased buildings and any park, recreation area, wildlife area or playground owned, leased or managed by a unit of local government. Subsection F sets the penalty structure: violations of Subsection C, along with Subsection A's possession-limit rule and Subsection B(1)'s under-21 possession rule, are punished by eight hours of community service or a $100 fine, while giving cannabis to a minor draws a $300 fine and an unlawful cannabis sativa plant draws $150 per plant.

Under Subsection I, the City treats these as civil, local-ordinance violations rather than state criminal charges except where state law requires referral to the McLean County State's Attorney, and no person can be charged under both the City Code and state law for the same act.