Cook County officials put an official feeler out in the form of a ballot referendum, looking to see how its voting residents feel about the state legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and learned Tuesday that over two-thirds think it should be done.

"Shall the State of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?" the referendum read.

With all precincts reporting, "yes" votes were leading the non-binding referendum tally with 63 percent of the vote, compared to 37 percent "no" votes, according to unofficial election results from the Cook County clerk's office.

Conversations with voters and law enforcement earlier in the day Tuesday illustrated the different aspects of the debate.

In Evanston, police Chief Richard Eddington said he doesn't support legalizing marijuana, but not necessarily for criminal reasons.

"My opposition is more medical than anything else," Eddington said.

He pointed to research from Northwestern University and elsewhere and noted that "the impact of chronic marijuana use on IQ scores, I think, is a relevant part of this discussion that is getting short shrift."

In Lincolnwood, voter Charles Levy said he stopped by Village Hall to cast his ballot for J.B. Pritzker in the Democratic race for for Illinois governor.

As for marijuana, "That was a hard one," Levy said. "I think it might pass. I'm not sure the wisdom of it though."

Raghad Hashlamoun and Nashra Mohammed served as poll workers there and said they were enjoying what was their first experience doing it. They also reflected on legalizing marijuana.

"I'm all for it to be honest," said Hashlamoun. "I don't see a problem with it because I think it would make the economy better."

Lincolnwood interim police Chief Bruce Rottner said he supports issuing citations for marijuana use, as opposed to arrest.

"I would say decriminalize it," Rottner said. "I would absolutely support decriminalizing marijuana."

Still, one of Rottner's concerns, he said, is how police officers might gauge the effects of marijuana on a driver who is pulled over.

"Are we going to see more drivers who aren't drinking but are using marijuana?" Rottner questioned.

In Skokie, voter Phillip Elue said he's against legalizing the drug.

"I care a lot about this and I'm against legalizing it. As somebody who works in the health care sector, I'm still against it."

In 2013, marijuana use for medicinal purposes was legalized in Illinois.

Elue said it there is a lot of potential negative impact that would come with legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

"People abuse it sometimes. If it's used only for medical purposes, I don't have a problem but not for recreation. Not like this," he said.

Leslie Flavian of Skokie said she voted for the referendum.

"The amount of police manpower that goes into arresting people for marijuana use is a big problem. The number of people who have been in our jails for marijuana use seems ridiculous. There are a lot of other crimes to pursue than for smoking marijuana," she said.

Voter Bridget Marron of Morton Grove said she voted against the referendum.

"I would support this only if it were prescribed by a doctor and not for recreational use," she said. "I think it's dangerous to just say OK under any circumstance."

Genevieve Bookwalter/Pioneer Press Poll worker Myra Esmail, seated left, checks in a voter waiting to cast his ballot on March 20, 2018 at the Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove. Poll worker Myra Esmail, seated left, checks in a voter waiting to cast his ballot on March 20, 2018 at the Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove. (Genevieve Bookwalter/Pioneer Press) (Genevieve Bookwalter/Pioneer Press)

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook