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Bill would let wrongly arrested clear their names without paying

01/28/2020
Expungement and sealing fees cause individuals with erroneous criminal records to have a hard time moving forward with their lives.

TAGS: Cook County, crime, criminal justice, decriminalization, expungement, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, overcriminalization, records, restore my good name

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

By Austin Berg
01/09/2020
Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, decriminalization, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, Springfield, tax burden, taxes, THC

Chicago council member calls for decriminalization of magic mushrooms

By Vincent Caruso
10/22/2019
City leaders passed a resolution expressing support for expanding scientific and medicinal research on organic psychedelics in Chicago, with the goal of decriminalizing adult use of the plants and fungi.

TAGS: Brian Hopkins, Chicago, Chicago City Council, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, legalization, magic mushrooms

Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records

By Vincent Caruso
11/30/2018
Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, expungement, marijuana

Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions

By Vincent Caruso
08/28/2018
The Alternative to Opioids Act will give more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana, opioid, Toi Hutchinson

Illinois lawmaker proposes legislation to legalize marijuana

By Hilary Gowins
03/22/2017
Under state Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s proposal, Illinoisans age 21 and older could legally possess, manufacture and sell marijuana.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, marijuana

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signs marijuana decriminalization bill

By Bryant Jackson-Green
07/29/2016
Effective immediately, possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana in Illinois is punishable by a fine, instead of a misdemeanor with possible jail time.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

Why Gov. Rauner should sign marijuana decriminalization into law

By Bryant Jackson-Green
05/27/2016
Imposing civil fines instead of criminal penalties for marijuana possession is a smart first step toward changing how the state deals with low-level, nonviolent crimes.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

Illinois House passes marijuana decriminalization bill

By Hilary Gowins
05/18/2016
The Illinois House has voted to impose civil fines rather than criminal penalties for low-level marijuana possession.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

State Rep. Cassidy reintroduces marijuana decriminalization bill

By Mark Fitton
12/11/2015
Twenty states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail time for simple marijuana possession.

TAGS: decriminalization

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Chicago Policy Center / Research Report

A city charter could bring order to Chicago’s dysfunction. How can it get one?


A city charter would put much-needed guardrails on the Chicago government. Here’s what needs to happen to get one.

View Report

Report Archive

Center for Poverty Solutions / Your Story

Melony Armstrong

Labor / Policy Point

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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