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

Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense

By Joe Kaiser

08/28/2018

Jason Spyres was arrested on drug charges nearly 20 years ago. In the years since, he’s been on a path of personal success and growth. A pardon from Gov. Bruce Rauner should follow.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, marijuana, sentencing reform

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

Rauner signs bill lifting ban on industrial hemp

By Vincent Caruso

08/27/2018

The Industrial Hemp Act will plant the seeds for the growth of commercial hemp production across Illinois.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, hemp, jobs, marijuana, Tim Butler, Toi Hutchinson

General Assembly passes bill expanding medical marijuana access as opioid alternative

By Eddie Damstra

06/07/2018

Lawmakers in Springfield are seeking to offer patients with debilitating conditions the option to replace opioids with medical marijuana.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, marijuana

Bill to expunge marijuana convictions passes House committee

By Brendan Bakala

04/26/2018

House Bill 2367 would allow those convicted of marijuana possession before Illinois decriminalized marijuana to petition for expungement of their guilty plea or criminal conviction.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Drug Paraphernalia Control, expungement, Illinois’ Cannabis Control, La Shawn Ford, marijuana

Illinois Senate votes to advance marijuana legalization question to ballot

By Brendan Bakala

03/02/2018

The Marijuana Legalization Referendum Act would ask voters if they support legalizing recreational marijuana for people 21 and over. The question is nonbinding.

TAGS: ballot referendums, marijuana

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