CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Saturday he's reached an agreement with key lawmakers on a plan to legalize recreational marijuana in the state starting next year.
The legislation would allow adults 21 and older to legally buy cannabis for recreational use from licensed dispensaries. Illinois residents could possess up to about an ounce of marijuana, while non-residents could possess about half an ounce .If it passes, Illinois would join 10 other states, including neighboring Michigan, in legalizing recreational marijuana. While the Illinois law would take effect Jan.
The proposal"starts righting some historic wrongs" against minority communities that have suffered from discriminatory drug policies and enforcement, the new governor said. 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" — or communities with high rates of poverty and high rates of arrest and incarceration for marijuana offenses — or been arrested or convicted of offenses eligible for expungement.
"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."
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