Mark Kupsky

St. Louis residents who’ve purchased recreational marijuana at Metro East dispensaries say the convenience of having local shops and lower taxes will make Missouri locations more attractive.

The Fairview Heights City Council voted 8-1 Wednesday to approve the dispensary near the intersection of Interstate 64 and Illinois Route 159. Ascend Illinois can now move forward with opening its second dispensary in the region at 114 Commerce Lane, a defunct Babies R Us store, in the main shopping district.

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The city council voted 7-3 Tuesday night to allow cannabis-related businesses to come to the city. Aldermen made the decision quickly…

Updated at 8:15 p.m., Dec. 17: By a vote of 7-3, the Fairview Heights City Council voted to allow and tax recreational cannabis sales in the city.Original…

In October 2015, about six months after Mark Kupsky was elected Fairview Heights mayor, the city agreed to part ways with its then-city administrator, Jim…