Adults in Illinois would be able to use small amounts recreational marijuana without fear of jail time under two bills introduced by the General Assembly. The bills are the first-ever legislation in the state aimed at rolling back marijuana-related penalties.
On Tuesday, lawmakers in both state houses introduced bills that would decriminalize and legalize small amounts of recreational marijuana for people over 21. Illinois currently has a strict pilot program for legal medical marijuana.
Senate Bill 753, sponsored by state Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin), would make it legal for anyone over 21 to possess more than 30 grams of marijuana, and it would [permit] the production and possession” of up to five marijuana plants.
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Both Nagib and Kane-Willis say they feel confident the two recent bills on recreational marijuana legalization and decriminalization won’t be the last to come from the legislature this session.
“I think there’s likely going to be one other bill, maybe more, introduced this session about tax and regulate,” Nagib said. “It’s the state of a somewhat prolonged conversation on what the right way forward is on this policy…but it’s a good stake in the ground to say ‘here’s how we can re-introduce this plant.'”
