Weed in the Land of Lincoln: Legal Cannabis Comes to Illinois Jan. 1
Illinois’ cannabis legalization law is set to go into effect in January and will usher in what proponents hope is the most socially just legalization framework in the nation.
“We’ve spent decades decimating communities and destroying lives with the war on drugs,” said State Representative Kelly Cassidy. “For us it was really more about equity and ensuring that we are repairing harm.”
The state’s law allocates resources to minority communities and areas of the state that have been impacted the most by past crackdowns on marijuana. It also attempts to reduce the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs in hopes Illinois can lead the charge toward a more equitable cannabis industry, by giving them a leg up to compete for 75 licenses the state will begin to issue in May.
“This industry has the potential to be a generational wealth-building opportunity,” said Brian Scruggs, an entrepreneur in the sector.
Yet it remains to be seen if Illinois’ law will allow affected communities to capture a share of the cannabis wealth, and if it can, as Cassidy put it, address the “buffet of problems” associated with marijuana justice.
Pete Nicoletti, Global CISO at Check Point, explains why it’s so difficult to legislate against A.I. disinformation and why it’s a concern going into the 2024 election.
Michelle Freyre, Clinique Global Brand President, discusses the company's latest ventures and why skin advice should always come from a trusted source.
Jason Tartick, small business expert and TurboTax Live Partner (who you may recognize from 'The Bachelorette'), shares his tips for making sure your taxes are flawless this year.
Christine Short, Head of Research, Global Corporate Events at Wall Street Horizon, a TMX Company, breaks down the biggest takeaways from companies’ quarterly results.
TikTok once again finds itself in a precarious position as lawmakers in Washington move forward with a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the platform.
Bryan West, Gannett’s Taylor Swift reporter, recaps the many, many, theories and Easter eggs Swifties are debating as her ‘Eras Tour’ film comes to Disney+.
‘Our Biggest Fight’ author and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, Jr. explains his problem with the internet – and why this Tiktok bill is just a starting point.
Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge for the Federal Reserve and for President Biden.
