Illinois governor clears thousands of marijuana convictions

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Kathleen Foody, Associated
Press Updated 4:02 pm CST, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois' governor granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on Tuesday, describing the step as a first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state's new marijuana legalization law.

The expungement process is a key part of the law, which takes effect Wednesday and made Illinois the 11th state to legalize marijuana for people 21 or older. When they crafted the policy, Illinois lawmakers said they wanted to repair some of the damage caused by law enforcement's efforts to combat sale and use of the drug, particularly in minority communities.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker announced the pardons at a church on Chicago's South Side. He said clearing the misdemeanor offenses from individuals' records will make it easier for them to get jobs, housing and financial aid for college.

State officials estimate that 116,000 convictions involving 30 grams or less of marijuana, including for possession of the drug, are eligible for pardons under the new law. Illinois State Police are responsible for identifying those convictions and sending the records to the state's Prisoner Review Board, which then forwarded eligible cases to the governor's office for pardons.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Illinois-governor-clears-thousands-of-marijuana-14941897.php

[RandySF]

1. K&R, Elections matter.

[frazzled]

2. Yes they do, and we should also remember

that actually listening to and considering the character and intelligence of candidates is essential in an election.

When the governor's race opened here in Illinois last year, and JB Pritzger announced his intention to run, I said to myself, "another billionaire? ... I don't thinnnnnnk so." But then, listening to all the debates, and looking further into his background, I found myself really coming to respect the guy and his command of the government and issues; and he has turned out to be a really solid governor, on many scores.

We often hear "billionaire" excoriated in our circles, as if this were some monolithic bogey man and not a label for many different kinds of individuals who have taken many different paths in life. Let's not prejudge people, but look to the individual.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. He's working out pretty darn well.

[mucifer]

10. Yeah, he's a FDR kinda billionaire, not a trump kinda billionaire

[jcmaine72]

3. Good!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Good for him

[murielm99]

6. He is one of the most progressive

governors in the country.

[Thekaspervote]

8. Can't say enough about our great new gov!!

[Mersky]

7. Good deal for Illinois and Gov. Pritzker!

[rickyhall]

9. Best thing Dems can do to get new voters. Repugs won't do it.

Repugs are why they're in jail for no good reason.

[Sherman A1]

11. K&R

[onetexan]

12. As it should be. Thank you Gov. Pritzker!