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    • Illinois Policy Institute
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Marijuana company investigated for pay to play? Hired Madigan cronies.

By Patrick Andriesen
04/01/2021
A Chicago-based marijuana company is facing a federal investigation into whether it bought influence to gain state licenses, sources told the Chicago Tribune. It hired four close associates of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, marijuana, Mike Madigan

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

What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois

By Austin Berg
01/01/2020
Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, legalization, marijuana

9 new Illinois taxes totaling $1.7B take effect Jan. 1

By Adam Schuster
12/15/2019
Nearly half of the 20 tax and fee hikes passed to support a record $40 billion state budget and $45 billion infrastructure plan hit on New Year’s Day.

TAGS: cannabis, cigarette tax, economy, electric car, electric vehicle, gas tax, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, marijuana, motor fuel tax, New Year's Day, online sales tax, parking garages, parking tax, progressive income tax, registration fee, spending, spending cap, Springfield, tax hikes, tax increase, taxes, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

Where you can and can’t buy recreational marijuana in Illinois

By Ben Szalinski
11/15/2019
Many Illinois municipalities have voted to ban or restrict marijuana sales when it becomes legal for sale. Here’s a list of where pot will, won’t and might be legally bought.

TAGS: Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, cannabis, Carbondale, Carol Stream, Chicago, City of Springfield, collar counties, Collinsville, Danville, Decatur, Downers Grove, DuPage County, Edwardsville, Elmhurst, Grayslake, Highland Park, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, legalization, Libertyville, Lombard, marijuana, Mundelein, municipal government, Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Park, Plainfield, prohibition, Schaumburg, Urbana, Waukegan, Wheaton, Winnetka

Legal marijuana sales may be restricted from most of downtown Chicago

By Vincent Caruso
09/18/2019
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed zoning changes that would keep marijuana dispensaries out of most of the downtown business district after recreational use becomes legal on Jan. 1 in Illinois.

TAGS: Brendan Reilly, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, marijuana, zoning

Illinois becomes 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana

By Vincent Caruso, Austin Berg
06/25/2019
The Land of Lincoln is the first state to legalize recreational marijuana via the legislative process rather than a ballot initiative.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, JB Pritzker, marijuana

20 tax and fee hikes totaling $4.6 billion coming soon for Illinoisans

By Adam Schuster
06/14/2019
The Illinois General Assembly and governor devised 20 different ways to take more money from taxpayers to finance spending on government operations and infrastructure.

TAGS: alcohol tax, fair tax, gas tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, marijuana, progressive income tax, streaming tax, taxes

Illinois lawmakers pass marijuana legalization

By Vincent Caruso
05/31/2019
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois is en route to the highest office in the state.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, licensing, marijuana, regulations

Restoring Justice Act would give less time to Illinoisans when their offense becomes less of a crime

By Vincent Caruso
02/14/2019
As Illinois works to decriminalize minor offenses, the Restoring Justice Act would adjust sentences for past offenders.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Illinois’ Cannabis Control, JB Pritzker, Kelly Cassidy, La Shawn Ford, marijuana

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Budget + Tax / Research Report

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans


Illinois has a chance to fix its state finances, thanks to federal relief. But unless pension growth is brought under control, both retirees and taxpayers will be at risk as debt continues to consume state services.

View Report

Report Archive

Education / Your Story

Brigette Barber

Jobs + Growth / Policy Point

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

By J. Scott Moody, Wendy Warcholik
07/07/2014
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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