How Illinois became the first state legislature to legalize marijuana sales

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/beta.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/06/04/how-illinois-became-first-state-legislature-legalize-marijuana-sales/%3foutputType=amp

Ten states have legalized recreational marijuana use, most through ballot initiatives. On Friday, Illinois took things one step further, becoming the first state legislature to pass a bill legalizing the sale and possession of it. (In 2018, Vermont lawmakers legalized possession only.)

The Illinois bill is notable for its attempts to wrap in significant criminal justice reform. Karen O’Keefe, with the Marijuana Policy Project, says it has a “very broad” component expunging people’s criminal records for doing what will soon be legal in Illinois. Additionally, would-be marijuana vendors in high-poverty, high-conviction neighborhoods will get preference in their applications. Proceeds from taxes and revenue will be reinvested in communities hit hard by marijuana convictions. (Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is expected to sign the bill, making Illinois the 11th state where marijuana is legal for recreational use.)

The Fix spoke to state Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D), a leading pro-legalization voice in the legislature’s black caucus, about how she advocated for the bill against a significant backdrop of skepticism within the black community. Our conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

[dalton99a]

1. Kick

[beachbum bob]

2. Jan 1, 2020 the law goes into effect, the only cop out was the growing of 5 plants for personal use

was removed from the recreational aspect and placed into the medical marijuana law. Which BTW, the legislature added improvements into the medical marijuana law too with additions of other conditions it can be proscribed for and they will allow PAs and high level RNS to do the evalautions instead of only physicians.

[Snarkoleptic]

3. Downside is the law-enforcement community pressured lawmakers to remove

a provision, which would have allowed anyone to grow up to 5-plants.

Medical marijuana patients would be allowed to grow five plants at a time. But non-patients are not allowed to grow marijuana at home – punishable by a civil penalty of $200 for growing up to five plants.

Here's a decent summary-
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana-legalization-in-illinois/

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. That's just totally unnecessary. I'll take it. But it seems some people will

stick to their old ways no matter what.

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. Growing five plants is.. a whole lot of pot.

Even if you’re using it daily, you’ll never come close to burning through that much in a year. Five plants’
worth and you’re giving it away like candy at Halloween. Too bad they still prohibit growing for rec., but quite likely, enforcing that law will have the urgency of making arrests for jaywalking. Cops just won’t care, and I wouldn’t blame them.