Illinois Senate approved the recreational use of marijuana on Wednesday.
What We Know:
- Illinois is a step closer to joining the 10 other states that have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults. The legislation passed with a 38-17 vote and will allow adults to purchase and possess small amounts of marijuana.
- The bill will allow residents 21 and over to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate, and cannabis-infused products containing no more than 500 milligrams of THC. Nonresidents would be able to possess 15 grams of cannabis, according to the Chicago Tribune.
- It would pardon individuals with past convictions for amounts of cannabis under 30 grams as long as they are not associated with a violent crime. Under this bill, more than 750,000 cannabis-related cases will be eligible for expungement, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. Additionally, employers would still be able to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy for cannabis in the workplace.
- Illinois’ Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who campaigned for the legalization of marijuana, already supports the bill. “Illinois is poised to become the first state in the nation that put equity and criminal justice reform at the heart of its approach to legalizing cannabis, and I’m grateful that the Senate has taken this important step,” Pritzker said in a statement.
- Taxes for cannabis products would be introduced under this legislation and licensed patients would be allowed to have up to five plants per household. In 2018, Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through legislature.
If passed, the bill would go into effect in January 2020.
