Will Illinois Become the Ninth State to Legalize Recreational Cannabis?

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A new bill has been introduced into the Illinois State Assembly that aims to legalize cannabis for adult use.

Senate Bill, or SB-316, would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21-and-older. It would also permit the sale, cultivation and possession of limited amounts of cannabis. and establish health and safety regulations regarding labeling and testing requirements, and place restrictions on cannabis marketing materials.

Many believe that Illinois could benefit from legalizin the recreational cannabis industry. “Marijuana prohibition is a quagmire that creates far more problems than it prevents,” Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said. “Several states have adopted sensible alternatives to prohibition, and it is time for Illinois to develop its own exit strategy. Regulating marijuana and removing the criminal element from marijuana production and sales will make our communities safer.”

A $50 per ounce sales tax would be placed on wholesale purchases, and retail sales would be taxed at 6.25 percent, the current sales tax for Illinois. It is estimated that cannabis sales in the state could produce between $349 million and $699 million annually.“Right now, all the money being spent on marijuana is going into the pockets of criminals and cartels,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Heather Steans (D-Chicago) said. “In a regulated system, the money would go into the cash registers of licensed, taxpaying businesses. It would generate hundreds of millions of dollars per year in new revenue for our state. Prohibition is a financial hole in the ground, and we should stop throwing taxpayer dollars into it.”

If passed, Illinois would become the ninth state to legalize recreational cannabis. A recent national poll showed that 59 percent of voters believe that cannabis should be legal. “People are fed up with laws that punish adults for using a substance that is far less harmful than alcohol,” said Chris Lindsey, senior legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project.