Illinois: Marijuana Legalization Measure Introduced

[ColesCountyDem]

Source: NORML

Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation to permit adults to legally possess and cultivate personal use amounts of marijuana.

Senate Bill 753 amends the criminal code to remove criminal and civil penalties specific to the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and/or the cultivation of up to five plants by those age 21 or older.

According to 2010 analysis of marijuana arrest data, Illinois police arrest some 50,000 individuals annually for simple marijuana possession offenses. Illinois ranks #5 in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests. Those arrested are disproportionately people of color. For example, in Chicago, some 95 percent of those arrested for marijuana possession are either Black or Hispanic.

For more information on this or other pending legislation, please contact Illinois NORML or follow them on Facebook....

Read more: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51046/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15542Link to source

[RKP5637]

1. K&R! n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

2. This needs to succeed. Go Illinois.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. The medical pot law is so restrictive and messed up

that it simply won't work.

[kysrsoze]

12. Agree. The market is so small, prospective business are pulling out

Leave it to the idiots in our state to mess up something so easy. That's why I have little hope for this effort.

[ColesCountyDem]

16. The rules are Byzantine, and that putting it mildly. n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

18. Yes! Just a short drive from Madison to Rockford!

[coffeenap]

3. Excellent--

Wish banking could catch up so we don't have trucks and warehouses full of cash....

[cascadiance]

4. Perhaps looking at passing vote by mail measure too at the same time...

If you look at the pattern of states that now have vote by mail and legalized marijuana, it correlates heavily...

Vote by mail:
Washington, Oregon, Colorado

Legalized marijuana
Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Alaska

I have to believe Alaskans should also try now to get in vote by mail. It makes sense for the geography of this state, and greater vote turnout could help perhaps get more democrats elected there too.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. Illinois permits voting by mail.

[KamaAina]

14. "and greater vote turnout could help perhaps get more democrats elected there too."

Which is likely why the repuke establishment has not pushed it.

[mopinko]

5. chicago cops need a serious smackdown on this.

they continue to arrest people even tho they are supposed to just issue tickets.

i think this will pass and i think rauner will sign it. we need to reduce the prison population here in a big way. it is one of rauner's first issues.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. I couldn't agree more, mopinko!

[Ed Suspicious]

7. I so hope you're right.

[MadDAsHell]

8. Amazing; this would be huge win. nt

[riderinthestorm]

11. This would also really help IL financial woes. K&R!!! Nt

[kysrsoze]

13. Legalize it!

[TeamPooka]

15. Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt

[Sienna86]

17. Smart move

Will be interesting to watch.