Pritzker, Illinois Chamber, Medical Cannabis Alliance of Illinois, and Marijuana Policy Project issue statements on Senate passage of Adult-Use Cannabis legislation

 

[May 30, 2019] 

Gov. Pritzker Praises Senate Passage of Adult-Use Cannabis

Springfield, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker released the following statement after the Illinois Senate passed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis.

“Illinois is poised to become the first state in the nation that put equity and criminal justice reform at the heart of its approach to legalizing cannabis, and I’m grateful that the Senate has taken this important step with a bipartisan vote. Senators Steans and Hutchinson have done tremendous work to reach this point, and I encourage the House to take decisive action to make Illinois a national leader in equity and criminal justice reform.”

Illinois Chamber of Commerce statement on the Senate passage of recreational cannabis

“While the Chamber remains skeptical on whether recreational cannabis is the right direction for Illinois, we recognize that this may become law, and have been engaged in a very constructive discussion with the sponsors of the legislation and the administration for the last several months," said Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch.

"We believe that through vigilant dialogue we have secured the strongest workplace protections of any state in the nation. We will continue to be active and engaged in any future conversations that are likely to occur to help shape the issue between passage and implementation on behalf of all Illinois workplaces. "

MCAI Statement on Legislative Progress for Adult Use, Permanent Medical Cannabis Program

SPRINGFIELD – The Medical Cannabis Alliance of Illinois today issued the following statements in response to legislative progress in Springfield, as legislators move forward with proposals to make the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program permanent and to legalize adult use of cannabis in Illinois:

“We are encouraged to see this progress on these important issues for our state’s economy and health move forward in these final days of the legislative session,” said Larry O’Hern, MCAI’s board chairman and owner of Nature’s Grace and Wellness cultivation center in western Illinois. “These proposals will create new jobs and economic opportunities, provide needed social justice and help many people where other treatments fall short. We appreciate the hard work of our legislators and Gov. Pritzker and the opportunity we have to play a role in shaping these important policies.”

“We have worked closely with these bills’ sponsors to address the social justice, economic and health components. We believe House Bill 1438 provides a good framework to responsibly bring adult use of cannabis to Illinois,” said Pamela Althoff, MCAI’s executive director. “We will be working with the sponsors on a trailer bill to address some issues that always need to be cleaned up in complex legislation like this.

"Thank you to Sen. Heather Steans, Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Gov. Pritzker’s Administration for their tireless work. We are proud of the good work and collaborative approach to date.

"We continue to work with Rep. Bob Morgan on his efforts to make the MCPP permanent and expand the conditions covered through medical cannabis, and are encouraged by our recent progress. The program has helped thousands of Illinoisans get the relief they desperately need, and we can change other lives for the better with this legislation in place.”

MCAI is a trade association based in Springfield formed to represent cultivation centers and dispensaries licensed under the state’s Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. MCAI’s goal is to promote the medicinal benefits of cannabis, safe delivery of medical cannabis and overall growth of the industry while ensuring the public’s general welfare is promoted and protected.

Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Legalize and Regulate Cannabis for Adult Use
Statement below from Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for adult use in Illinois passed in the state Senate Wednesday in a vote of 38-17. The bill, which removes several cannabis possession offenses from criminal histories, now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“MPP is proud to have worked hand-in-hand with state lawmakers and Gov. Pritzker to develop this historic legislation,” said Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which is leading advocacy efforts in support of the legislation. “This bill helps people remove the stigma and harm caused by prior cannabis possession convictions and creates opportunities for those who want to enter the new, regulated program.”

HB 1438, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Kelly Cassidy, would legalize the possession and purchase of up to 30 grams of cannabis for adults and establish an inclusive, regulated market for cultivators, processors, transporters, retail stores, and testing labs. If enacted, adults could begin purchasing cannabis as early as January 1, 2020. In addition to legalizing possession and sales for adults, the bill adds the option for medical patients to grow cannabis at home and creates cannabis-related training opportunities at local community colleges.

Laws regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use have been enacted in nine states — including Michigan — and the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. Vermont and D.C. are the only two U.S. jurisdictions where cannabis possession and cultivation is legal, but where the laws do not include regulated retail sales. If HB 1438 is enacted, Illinois will become the first state to approve legal cannabis sales through the state legislature rather than via a ballot measure.

[TEXT FROM FILES RECEIVED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES]