A bill to legalize marijuana in Illinois is heading to the governor’s desk following a successful vote in the House of Representatives on May 31, 2019.

The legislation would allow individuals 21 and older to possess, consume, and purchase cannabis from licensed retailers. It also contains a number of social equity provisions, while at the same time giving existing medical cannabis businesses a leg up in the licensing process.

The House passed the bill, H.B. 1438, in a 66-47 vote.

The win for legalization supporters comes two days after the Senate approved the legislation, 38-17.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he will sign the bill into law, making Illinois the 11th state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana — but the first to regulate the adult-use cannabis industry through an act of lawmakers as opposed to via a voter-approved ballot measure. (Vermont lawmakers passed legislation legalizing marijuana possession and home cultivation in 2018, but commercial sales remain prohibited.)

“The state of Illinois just made history, legalizing adult-use cannabis with the most equity-centric approach in the nation,” he said in a Twitter post. “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.”

“In the interest of equity and criminal justice reform, I look forward to signing this monumental legislation,” Pritzker added.

“By passing legalization through the legislative process Illinois has taken huge steps towards repairing some of the damages that cannabis prohibition and the war on drugs have had on communities of color,” Dan Linn, executive director of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Marijuana Moment. “This legalization bill is just one step in righting those wrongs but by no means is the end of this conversation.”

Under the proposal, people with prior possession convictions for 30 grams, or about 1 ounce, or less of cannabis would have their records expunged by the state attorney general after consideration by the Prisoner Review Board and a gubernatorial pardon, and those convicted of possession for greater than 30 grams but fewer than 500 grams could petition the courts for expungement.

“The Illinois Legislature has set a standard of excellence with this bill that other states seeking to pass similar legislation should follow,” Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), said in a press release. “Marijuana was at the heart of our nation’s disastrous war on drugs. This is a measure that will improve people’s lives on a level commensurate with the devastation wrought by prohibition.”

Taxes on cannabis sales would be based in part on THC concentration. Flower containing up to 35 percent THC would be taxed at 10 percent, whereas products with more than 35 percent THC would be taxed at 25 percent. Cannabis-infused products would be subject to a 20 percent tax. The state’s 6.25% sales tax would also apply, with local jurisdictions having the option to impose an additional 3.5% tax.

The tax revenue would go toward administrative costs associated with implementing the legal program, community grant programs, law enforcement operations, substance abuse centers, and the state general fund.

Medical cannabis patients would be allowed to cultivate up to five plants for therapeutic purposes, which isn’t allowed under the state’s existing medical program. The bill initially allowed for any adult to legally grow their own marijuana at home, but it was amended to instead decriminalize the cultivation of up to five plants for non-patients. Instead of jail time, the offense would be punishable by a $100-to-$200 fine.

Reform advocates celebrated the bill’s advancement, though some worry that giving current medical cannabis dispensaries priority to become licensed adult-use providers could undermine the legislation’s social equity provisions.

The state’s House Black Caucus remained concerned that the bill wouldn’t deliver enough for black-owned businesses in the lead up to the vote, according to Politico.

But during the floor debate, one of the caucus members, Democratic Rep. Marcus Evans, made his support for the bill and its social equity provisions clear.

I am a black man from the South Side of Chicago,” Evans said. The war on drugs has ravaged my community and impacted my family. I’ve had trepidation, but this bill warms my heart. Click To Tweet

“I am a black man from the South Side of Chicago,” he said. The war on drugs has ravaged my community and impacted my family. I’ve had trepidation, but this bill warms my heart.”

Also at the debate, Democratic Rep. Anthony DeLuca said that he couldn’t support the legislation, arguing that it would send the wrong message to young people. But before yielding, the lawmaker re-enacted an infamous anti-marijuana campaign advertisement.

He pulled out an egg and said: “This is your brain.” Then he cracked it on a frying pan and said: “This is your brain on drugs.”

The bill would allow individuals who’ve lived in an area that has been disproportionately impacted by prohibition, or who’ve been convicted of an offense that could be expunged under the legislation, to apply for business licenses as social equity applicants. That designation would give them a leg up in the licensing process and provide for fee waivers.

The legislation would also create a $30 million low-interest loan program to help disadvantaged people pay for the startup costs of launching a cannabis business.

The expungement remedy in the Illinois bill is truly historic. It will potentially clear the slate of over 750,000 cases, vastly exceeding any other state’s remedy on expungement for marijuana convictions.

“Illinois has put in place a set of equity provisions that should serve as a national model for other state legislatures grappling with how to redress the harm caused to communities targeted in the drug war,” said Hawkins of the Marijuana Policy Project.

“The expungement remedy in the Illinois bill is truly historic. It will potentially clear the slate of over 750,000 cases, vastly exceeding any other state’s remedy on expungement for marijuana convictions.”

Under the proposed timeline for the rollout of the program, its provisions would take effect on January 1, 2020. Existing medical cannabis shops would have the advantage when it comes to securing licenses, and licenses for new dispensaries would have to be issued by May 1, 2020.

Processors, craft growers, and transporters would be licensed by July 1.

Pritzker made cannabis legalization a central tenet of his 2018 gubernatorial campaign. He said shortly after the election that passing legislation to end prohibition was something he wanted to do “right away,” but crafting and negotiating over the bill ultimately took several months.

He worked with lawmakers throughout the legislative process, finally revealing early details about the plan in early May 2019.

Pritzker also included revenue from legalization in his budget proposal, arguing that creating a regulated market would stimulate job growth and bolster the economy. A separate analysis of the potential windfall from legalization estimated that Illinois would bring in more than $500 million in tax revenue in the first year.

Featured Image: Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city, could have a sizable marijuana marketplace if Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs an adult-use legalization bill, which passed the House of Representatives in Springfield on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Aaron Bean on Unsplash)

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