Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Lawmakers introduced legislation in both houses of the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday to legalize and tax marijuana for adults in the state "in the interest of allowing law enforcement to focus on violent and property crimes, generating revenue...and individual freedom," in the words of the bill.

The Senate version, SB316, is sponsored by the Appropriations Committee Chair, 7th District Sen. Heather Steans. The House version was introduced as an amendment to HB 2353 by Rep. Kelly Cassidy of the 14th District. Both are Democrats representing the North Side of Chicago. Steans said the first hearings are likely to begin in April.

“Right now, all the money being spent on marijuana is going into the pockets of criminals and cartels,” Steans said, announcing the bill. She said the law would redirect that money into legitimate, taxpaying businesses and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue instead of funding gangs.

"Prohibition is a financial hole in the ground and we should stop throwing taxpayer dollars into it," said Steans.

"This is revenue that is desperately needed for our state. These are savings that are needed for our communities. Our communities will be safer as a result of this," said Rep. Cassidy, the House sponsor. "It really is the 'win-win-win'."

The bill sets out base tax rates for marijuana and directs tax revenue from a new "cannabis excise tax" to be spent according to a specific scheme:

• Department of Public Health: 20 percent — This would be divided equally between "evidence-based, voluntary programs for the prevention or treatment of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis abuse" and "a scientifically and medically accurate public education campaign educating youth and adults about the health and safety risks of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis."

• Board of Education: 30 percent

• General Revenue Fund: 50 percent.

Under the proposed new law, marijuana would be restricted under the law in much the same as is alcohol under state law. Sale to anyone under 21 would remain illegal. Driving under the influence would remain illegal. Consumption in public would remain illegal, as would possession of more than 28 grams at a time (including no more than 5 grams of "concentrated cannabis") for residents, and 14 for non-residents.

“Several states have adopted sensible alternatives to prohibition, and it is time for Illinois to develop its own exit strategy," Cassidy said. In addition to the increases in revenue, she said Illinois was likely to see savings at the state and local levels.

The new legislation would put the state in charge of regulating and licensing businesses to grow, distribute and sell marijuana. It would apply restrictions to its manufacture, marketing, labeling and testing. Cassidy said this would not present a significant increase in costs to taxpayers, "The industry is up and running. It wouldn't take much to scale up. We're already doing all of those things for medical cultivators and dispensaries, so it would not be a significant increase on that front."

"Given the fact that we have all universally acknowledged the need for more revenue I think it would be foolhardy to ignore this particular source that we could pretty easily scale up," Cassidy said. "We could be seeing revenue in fairly short order if we were to act swiftly on this."

Steans, who introduced the Senate bill decriminalizing under 10 grams of marijuana, said "taxing marijuana will not and should not solve all of our budget woes, but it should be a part of the conversation about resolving Illinois’ worsening budget problems." Cannabis legalization could also lead to a drop in opiod overuse, she added.

Eight states have already fully decriminalized and begun taxing cannabis, and annual tax revenue from marijuana sales could generate between $349 million and $699 million per year in new revenue for Illinois, according to the Colorado-based pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project.

The office of Gov. Bruce Rauner said the bills are under review. He used an amendatory veto in 2015 to reduce the maximum amount of marijuana possession punishable by a civil citation.

Top photo via Shutterstock.