Recreational marijuana shops in most of downtown Chicago would be prohibited, and the remainder of the city would be separated into seven “cannabis districts” where legal marijuana dispensary shops may function under the new zoning rules introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The new state legislation limits the amount of recreational marijuana stores permitted in Chicago, and the plan for zoning by the mayor will limit the number of dispensaries in each of the seven “cannabis districts”. This is to ensure that they are distributed equally throughout the region.

Lightfoot said it would provide an opportunity for places ravaged by the drug war to develop in the new industry, and benefit from legal cannabis. The mayor also claims it will help to stop clustered marijuana dispensaries in just a few small areas.

The bill will also include an exclusion zone in the Central Business District, where recreational marijuana purchases will be forbidden. The exclusion zone would be bordered on the North by Oak Road, on the East by Lake Michigan, on the South by Ida B. Wells Boulevard, and on the West by LaSalle street.

The city would also prohibit recreational sales of pot within 500 yards of schools. City laws would also prohibit marijuana sales in any unapproved business area or residential building.

The bill will also make it possible for currently approved medical marijuana dispensaries to market recreational cannabis to anyone 21 years of age or older.

State law prohibits public use of marijuana. However (according to local regulations), state law will allow on-site use at approved dispensaries. The mayor’s office said the city will require certain cannabis companies use licenses for this activity, but the rules are yet undecided.