Illinois Governor Plans to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Saturday that he has 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.

The measure would also automatically expunge some marijuana convictions.

While the Illinois law would take effect Jan. 1, the first licenses for Illinois growers, processors and dispensaries wouldn’t be issued until May and July 2020.

It includes a $20 million low-interest loan program to assist 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 poverty rates and high rates of arrest for marijuana offenses.

The governor’s office said 35% of revenue from legal cannabis would go to the state’s general operating fund, while an additional 25% would go into a new Restoring Our Communities fund. Illinois would use 10% of revenue to pay a backlog of unpaid bills. The rest would support mental health and substance abuse treatment, law enforcement grants and public education and awareness.