Illinois poised to be 11th state to legalize marijuana use
5 years, 7 months ago

Illinois poised to be 11th state to legalize marijuana use

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois is likely to become the 11th state to allow small amounts of marijuana for recreational use after the Democratic-controlled House on Friday sent a legalization plan to Democratic Gov. But Cassidy said Friday the first year’s take would be $58 million and the state could expect $500 million in five years. “This will have a transformational impact on our state, creating opportunity in the communities that need it most and giving so many a second chance.” Both sides in the debate traded summaries of studies that differ on the impact of using the psychoactive drug, with opponents claiming it’s a gateway to stronger drugs and that it can have ill effects, including producing psychosis. He then produced an egg and cracked it into a frying pan, recreating a famous 1980s public service announcement which suggested the frying egg represents “your brain on drugs.” Originally intending to let anyone grow five marijuana plants at home for personal consumption, law enforcement opposition prompted Cassidy to restrict the five-plant home-grow limit only to qualified medical-marijuana patients.

Democratic State House Marijuana Illinois Cassidy Pritzker  revenue  legalize  pritzker  million  marijuana  legalization  house  state  plan  poised  grams  11th  illinois

History of this topic

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states
2 months ago

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states

NPR  

Voters could make recreational cannabis legal in more than half of U.S. states toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Three more states are voting today on whether to legalize the recreational use of cannabis — and if more than one of the measures passes, it would mean a majority of U.S. states have recreational marijuana laws on the books. …

Lawmakers seek to prop up Delaware medical marijuana industry after legalizing recreational use
9 months, 1 week ago

Lawmakers seek to prop up Delaware medical marijuana industry after legalizing recreational use

Associated Press  

— Senior citizens in Delaware will be able to get medical marijuana without a prescription or referral from a doctor under a bill heading to Democratic Gov. Instead, according to chief Senate sponsor Kyra Hoffner, doctors will be able to prescribe medical marijuana “as they feel fit.” Supporters of the bill, which earned only one Republican vote in the Democrat-controlled …

After election, marijuana advocates look to next states
2 years, 1 month ago

After election, marijuana advocates look to next states

Associated Press  

— Law-abiding marijuana enthusiasts could find themselves in a bit of a predicament following voter approval of a recreational cannabis initiative in Missouri. Maryland residents will have to wait even longer — until the middle of next year — before a recreational marijuana measure approved this past week can take effect. After Democratic victories in last week’s legislative and gubernatorial …

Illinois sees record pot sales, with boost from Lollapalooza
3 years, 5 months ago

Illinois sees record pot sales, with boost from Lollapalooza

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Illinois dispensaries sold a record $127.8 million in recreational marijuana in July, with a big boost coming from out-of-state fans who converged on Chicago for the Lollapalazoo music festival. The month’s sales were 10% higher than May’s record of $116.4 million, which were slightly higher than June’s $115.6 million, according to a monthly report by the Illinois Department …

New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana
3 years, 9 months ago

New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana

Associated Press  

New York adults over the age of 21 can now possess and use marijuana — even in public — under a legalization bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Passed after several years of stalled efforts, the measure makes New York the 16th state to legalize adult use of the drug, though South Dakota’s measure is in legal limbo. “By placing community …

Illinois erases 500,000 low-level cannabis charges
4 years ago

Illinois erases 500,000 low-level cannabis charges

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The governor of Iliinois …

Illinois sees first legal sales of recreational marijuana
5 years ago

Illinois sees first legal sales of recreational marijuana

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Illinois’ first day of legal recreational marijuana generated nearly $3.2 million in sales, state officials announced Thursday. “There’s new room for new people to come in.” By comparison, neighboring Michigan, which made recreational marijuana legal starting Dec. 1, generated $3.1 million in the first two weeks of sales. Hutchinson said Thursday marked “phase two’’ of the Illinois legalization …

Illinois offers reparations as it legalises cannabis
5 years, 6 months ago

Illinois offers reparations as it legalises cannabis

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Cannabis advocates have stressed the need to include reparations in legalizations to compensate communities …

Illinois now the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana
5 years, 6 months ago

Illinois now the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana

CNN  

Washington CNN — Illinois is now the 11th state in the United States to legalize the purchase and possession of recreational marijuana. The measure, which passed the Illinois General Assembly earlier this month, also pardons individuals with nonviolent convictions for amounts of cannabis up to 30 grams. “In the past 50 years, the war on cannabis has destroyed families, filled …

Illinois Democrats celebrate budget, construction plan
5 years, 7 months ago

Illinois Democrats celebrate budget, construction plan

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers have wrapped up their spring session after a whirlwind week that produced a budget, a state construction plan and billions of dollars in tax increases to fund it, more gambling, legalized marijuana use and protections for abortion. But with Democrats holding majorities in both legislative chambers, Pritzker was able to emphasize a list of accomplishments …

Overtime produces Illinois budget, construction, taxes
5 years, 7 months ago

Overtime produces Illinois budget, construction, taxes

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois House cranked out mountains of legislation Saturday in an overtime workday, producing a $39.9 billion budget, a $45 billion state construction program, and billions of dollars in new taxes and fees to fund it, from a doubled gasoline tax to a leviathan expansion of gambling. They approved asking voters to decide in next year’s election …

Illinois advances legalized pot after home growing settled
5 years, 7 months ago

Illinois advances legalized pot after home growing settled

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers working to legalize recreational marijuana hit a snag that other states have wrestled with: whether to allow people to grow a few pot plants for personal use. The 10 states that have legalized recreational marijuana have different “home grow” rules, with Michigan allowing individuals to grow as many as 12 plants and Washington state not …

Correction: Marijuana Legalization-Illinois story
5 years, 8 months ago

Correction: Marijuana Legalization-Illinois story

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — In a story May 4 about Illinois marijuana legalization efforts, The Associated Press erroneously reported the last name of the president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. J.B. Pritzker says he’s reached an agreement with key lawmakers on a plan to legalize recreational marijuana in the state starting next year By SARA BURNETT Associated Press CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. …

After marijuana’s legalization elsewhere, why not Minnesota?
5 years, 11 months ago

After marijuana’s legalization elsewhere, why not Minnesota?

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Several Minnesota lawmakers launched an effort Monday to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, hoping to capitalize on recent successes the pro-cannabis movement has enjoyed elsewhere in the country. “The issue of cannabis legalization is one that’s moving incredibly fast around the country,” said Freiberg, of Golden Valley, who expressed hope that at least this would …

Cuomo unveils plan to make NY 11th state to legalize pot
5 years, 11 months ago

Cuomo unveils plan to make NY 11th state to legalize pot

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York would become the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults under a proposal unveiled Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Two years ago Cuomo dismissed marijuana as a “gateway drug” but now says he supports legalization following a study by state health officials who determined the benefits of legalization outweigh the risks. Take a look at …

Marijuana legalization debate shifts from ‘when’ to ‘how’
6 years ago

Marijuana legalization debate shifts from ‘when’ to ‘how’

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Proposed plans for the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Illinois have shifted from “when” to “how.” Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker campaigned on the legalization issue and its corresponding tax revenue of as much as $1 billion a year. “And you see slight increase in people over 50 because their knees hurt.” The Steans-Cassidy plan would allow …

Indiana governor remains against legalizing marijuana
6 years ago

Indiana governor remains against legalizing marijuana

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. “I’m just not willing to look at that, especially since it is illegal right now according to the federal government,” Holcomb told reporters recently. She said support for such legislation “is at an all-time high” in the state and the Legislature should “follow the will of the people.” The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is among the …

Discover Related