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Pritzker Applauds Cannabis law, passes Illinois House
The Illinois House approved the legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis, sale of recreational Marijuana (Cannabis), a vote appaluded by Gov. JB Pritzker.
“The state of Illinois just made history, legalizing adult-use cannabis with the most equity-centric approach in the nation. 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,” Governor JB Pritzker said Friday, May 31, 2019.
“I applaud bipartisan members of the General Assembly for their vote on this legislation and I especially want to thank the sponsors Senator Steans and Representative Cassidy, as well as Senator Hutchinson, Senator Aquino, Leader Gordon-Booth, Representative Villanueva, the Black and Latino Caucuses, and Senator Barickman and Representative Welter for their tremendous work to make legalization a reality. In the interest of equity and criminal justice reform, I look forward to signing this monumental legislation.”
The Cannabis Act allows Illinois residents who are aged 21 and over to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana. Local governments would be given oversight and controls including the ability to ban cannabis shops or place zoning restrictions on where they should be located. The law prohibits citizens from growing cannabis in their homes or on their property, with the exception of Medical marijuana patients would be able to grow up to five plants at home.
The adoption of the legalization of adult-use cannabis was applauded by many legislators.
State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, issued the following statement on the passage of House Bill 1438, which legalizes adult-use recreational cannabis in Illinois:
“I’m proud to have worked together with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in Illinois. This measure represents an intensive effort to put restorative and racial justice at the forefront of public policy to help remedy decades of intergenerational harm that has been done to primarily black and brown communities by the War on Drugs.
“This measure addresses the concerns of a wide range of constituencies, including the business community and law enforcement, while offering real criminal justice reform. Illinoisans who were previously convicted of certain cannabis-related offenses will now be eligible to have those convictions expunged, which is critical to securing jobs and housing.
“This bill also delivers a significant investment from revenue generated by cannabis sales towards community building and economic development programs in areas that have historically faced a lack of investment. There will also be a social equity program to create businesses opportunities within the marijuana industry for these disinvested communities.
“This measure will serve as a national model for how to create a recreational cannabis program that works by lifting up disinvested communities and creating new opportunities for local small businesses. Thanks to this legislation, Illinois will have more jobs, shared economic growth, and will become a more just state.”
Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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