Illinois is now the 11th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana.
Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the legalization bill into law on Tuesday, just a few weeks after the proposal was passed by the state legislature.
“With this legislation, our state once again is a leader, putting forward the most equity-centric cannabis legalization in the nation,” Pritzker said at the signing ceremony. Pritzker, who came into office in January, has long advocated for legalization and campaigned heavily on the issue.
The law — known as the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act — declares that cannabis will be "regulated in a manner similar to alcohol." Adults 21 years old and older will be able to legally purchase and possess up to 30 grams of marijuana and cannabis-infused products with up to 500 milligrams of THC.
The legislation also creates a framework for the expungement of non-violent, cannabis charges. Those charged with under 30 grams of marijuana will automatically have their cases reviewed through the governor's clemency program; individuals charged with 30 - 500 grams can submit petitions for the court to clear their records.
The state said that roughly 700,000 cases are eligible for expungement and 405,000 cases will be sent through the clemency process for automatic expungement.
"The time for justice is now, especially for communities of color who have long been disproportionately impacted by low-level cannabis convictions and the failed war on drugs,” Kim Foxx, the Cook County State's Attorney, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure the broadest relief possible under this revolutionary law."
Illinois also made history for being the first state in the U.S. to legalize commercial cannabis through the state legislature, as opposed to a voter referendum.
The law allows licensed growers and sellers to operate up to three cultivation centers and 10 dispensaries. It also creates a $30 million low-interest loan program to help businesses enter the sector.
"This team effort sets a new standard for what cannabis reform can look like when undertaken with an openness to tough discussions, a commitment to strong outcomes and a willingness to do the hard work together," state Rep. Kelly Cassidy said in a statement. "We set out to do this differently and we did.”
Several other statehouses, including New York and New Jersey, have attempted and failed to pass legalization bills.
Illinois' law will go into effect on January 1, 2020.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with "Top Gun: Maverick" making $19.3M in previews, BTS heading to the White House, and "Ozark” reclaiming the throne as number one in the Nielsen streaming ratings.
Music group North Star Boys joins Cheddar News to discuss their debut single, shutting down Times Square, and representing the Asian community through music.
On this episode of ChedHER: Author of 'The Glass Ledge: How to Break Through Self-Sabotage, Embrace Your Power, and Create Your Success' discusses what exactly the 'glass ledge' is and how to overcome negative self-perception; Co-Owner of Wanderlust Creamery explains the story behind launching her very own ice cream business, and how she's overcome hurdles as a business owner; Chief Marketing Officer at Great Learning and Capacity Planning Analyst at Salesforce discuss how upskilling can help you advance in your career.
Adrienne Borlongan, Co-Owner of Wanderlust Creamery, joins ChedHER to discuss the story behind launching her very own ice cream business, and how she's overcome hurdles as a business owner.
Iman Oubou, Author of 'The Glass Ledge: How to Break Through Self-Sabotage, Embrace Your Power, and Create Your Success,' joins ChedHER to discuss what exactly the 'glass ledge' is and how to overcome negative self-perception.
Aparna Mahesh, Chief Marketing Officer at Great Learning, and Brandy Murray, Capacity Planning Analyst at Salesforce and Great Learning learner, join ChedHER to discuss how upskilling can help you advance in your career.
Umbilical cord blood banking platform Anja Health raised $4.5 million dollars in a seed round led by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Anja Health offers a personalized, doctor-backed cord blood bank, which lets new parents freeze stem cells from their child's umbilical cord so they can be used to treat diseases in the future. It's a process Anja has called 'Hollywood's best-kept secret,' as celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Serena Williams, and more have all banked their umbilical cord blood. Kathryn Cross, the founder of Anja Health, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Actor Jimmy O. Yang is partnering with Chinese food chain Panda Express for his YouTube series "Jimmy's Kitchen." The comedian joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership as well as upcoming ventures. "Panda Express could not be more perfect like even before this deal, I was just wearing a Panda Express hat for fun when I go outside," he said.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now. "I borrow all this stuff, you know, and I just feel kind of an obligation to share it with the public and make it come alive if you will," he said.
