Illinois lawmakers hear testimony for marijuana legalization proposals

By Brendan Bakala

09/07/2017

Two bills to legalize marijuana currently sit in Springfield.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Heather Steans, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, marijuana

Cards Against Humanity contributes to Illinois marijuana legalization effort

By Joe Tabor

08/04/2017

The popular Chicago-based game company is helping efforts to legalize and regulate marijuana, which could extend to Illinois.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, marijuana

Illinois bill would legalize sale, production of hemp

By John Kristof

07/18/2017

Senate Bill 1294 creates the Industrial Hemp Act, which would require licensing for “any person desiring to grow, process, cultivate, harvest, process, possess, sell, or purchase industrial hemp or industrial hemp related products must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture.”

TAGS: agriculture, hemp, marijuana

Legislation would allow people convicted of cannabis offenses to petition for expungement if Illinois legalizes marijuana

By Hilary Gowins

03/30/2017

A proposed amendment to Illinois’ Criminal Identification Act would allow people to petition to have their arrest and conviction records cleared of any cannabis-related offenses that Illinois ultimately takes off the books through marijuana legalization.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Kelly Cassidy, Marcus Evans, marijuana

Poll shows ‘large majorities’ of Illinois voters support legalizing marijuana

By Hilary Gowins

03/27/2017

Illinoisans of all ages, political party affiliations and regions of the state favor legalizing marijuana and regulating and taxing it like alcohol, as provided in legislation proposed by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy on March 22.

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

Court strikes down ban on campaign contributions from medical marijuana licensees

By Jacob Huebert

03/24/2017

“By singling out medical cannabis organizations,” Judge Lee wrote, the state of Illinois appeared to be favoring certain speakers based on their viewpoints – precisely the type of discrimination the Supreme Court has disapproved of in the past.

TAGS: liberty justice center, marijuana

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, marijuana possession

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, marijuana possession

Rauner agrees to expand medical marijuana program for those with PTSD, terminal illnesses

By Austin Berg

05/27/2016

A compromise among Illinois’ legislative leaders will extend the length and scope of Illinois’ medical marijuana pilot program.

TAGS: 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