Lawmakers in Illinois reach agreement to legalise recreational ganja -- Governor

CHICAGO (AP) —The Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker announced today that he has reached an agreement with key lawmakers on a plan to legalise recreational marijuana in the state starting next year.

The proposed legislation would allow adults 21 and older to legally buy cannabis for recreational use from licensed dispensaries.

Medical cannabis is already legal in Illinois.

Under the proposed law, persons who live in the state of Illinois would be permitted to possess up to about an ounce (30 grams) of marijuana while non-residents could possess about half an ounce (15 grams).

The measure also would automatically expunge some marijuana convictions.

If it passes, Illinois would join 10 other American states, including neighbouring Michigan, to legalise recreational marijuana.

While the proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2020, the first licenses for Illinois growers, processors and dispensaries would not be issued until May and July next year, the governor’s office said.

Pritzker was joined by fellow Democratic lawmakers in Chicago as he announced the deal, which comes after years of discussion among state legislators.

They indicated, too, that the measure will be introduced Monday, kicking off debate at the legislature, where Democrats hold a majority in both chambers.

“The proposal starts righting some historic wrongs against minority communities that have suffered from discriminatory drug policies and enforcement,” the governor said.

“This bill advances equity by providing resources and second chances to people and communities that have been harmed by policies such as the failed ‘war on drugs,’” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who is black.

The measure includes a $20 million low-interest loan program to help defray the costs of starting a licensed cannabis business for “social equity applicants.”

Those applicants would include people who have lived in a “disproportionately impacted area” (communities with high rates of poverty and high rates of arrest and incarceration for marijuana offences) or who have been arrested or convicted of offences eligible for expungement.

Critics of the proposed legalisation, including law enforcement and the Illinois NAACP, have said it would lead to more addiction and mental health issues and would harm rather than help black communities.

“The consequences of this bill are far reaching and will have devastating impacts on citizens, communities and youth,” said Kevin Samet, founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

“Illinois lawmakers must take a smart, commonsense approach, and not welcome in another addiction-for-profit industry into the state,” Samet said.

The governor’s office said 35 per cent of the revenues derived from legal cannabis would go to the state’s general operating fund, while an additional 25 per cent would go into a new Restoring Our Communities fund.

That money would be distributed as grants to communities that “have suffered the most because of discriminatory drug policies.”

Illinois would use 10 per cent of revenue to pay a backlog of unpaid bills.

The rest of the money would support mental health and substance abuse treatment, law enforcement grants and public education and awareness.

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