When can I buy pot in Illinois? How much can I buy? Your questions answered

Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize recreational weed Friday. Here’s what you need to know about the bill Gov. Pritzker says he will sign.

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Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize weed Friday.

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Many “high-minded” Illinoisans rejoiced when they learned lawmakers weren’t just blowing smoke about legalizing recreational weed.

On Friday, state representatives approved the watershed legislation to lift the statewide prohibition on pot, making Illinois the 11th state in the country to fully legalize the drug and the first to do so through legislative means. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who campaigned on a pro-pot platform and helped shape the legislation, has vowed to sign the bill into law once it crosses his desk.

Here’s what Illinoisans should know about the legislation:

When can I buy legal pot?

On Jan. 1, Illinoisans will be able to legally purchase recreational marijuana from pot shops across the state. 

Companies that currently hold licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana will be included in an early approval process that will allow them to obtain recreational pot licenses and start selling the drug at the start of the new year.

How much weed can I have?

Illinois residents over the age of 21 will be able to carry 30 grams, or just over an ounce, of marijuana flower (the plant itself), 5 grams of cannabis concentrate, like hash oil, and up to a half-gram of THC – the chemical compound that gets users high – within cannabis-infused products, like edibles.

Visitors from outside of Illinois will be allowed to possess half those amounts. 

VIDEO: CLICK TO HEAR REPORTER TOM SCHUBA DISCUSS BILL ON WCIU THE JAM
Sun-Times reporter Tom Schuba talks about the impact of the bill to legalize recreational marijuana on WCIU The Jam.

Sun-Times reporter Tom Schuba talks about the impact of the bill to legalize recreational marijuana on WCIU The Jam.

Can I smoke pot wherever I want?

No. You still will not be able to legally partake in the street or in public spaces. Local governments can decide whether to allow pot-related businesses, including those that could allow users to indulge on-site.

Can I grow marijuana at home?

The legalization bill initially allowed Illinoisans to grow up to five plants at home. The issue became a major sticking point when some law enforcement officials and state legislators warned that home-grown grass would be hard to regulate and could be diverted to the black market.

The sponsors of the legislation ultimately kowtowed to the criticism, revising the language and limiting home grow to medical marijuana patients, who will be allowed to cultivate up five plants at a time.

Under the legislation, Illinoisans who aren’t medical patients can be subjected to a maximum civil penalty of $200 if they’re caught growing up to five marijuana plants at home.

How will employers deal with cannabis legalization?

Despite lawmakers voting to legalize weed, the legislation will still allow employers to test workers for pot and fire them for using the drug. 

Pot parties where marijuana was allowed to be consumed were shut down by the city last week.

File photo

AP

How will recreational pot be taxed?

Pot products with less than 35% of THC — the chemical compound that gets users high — will be taxed at a 10% rate, while products with more THC will be taxed at a 25% rate and cannabis-infused products will carry a 20% tax.

Where will the tax revenue go?

In his proposed budget for fiscal year 2020, Pritzker included $170 million in projected revenue from licensing and fees related to legal cannabis. However, lawmakers have since estimated that only $57 million would be generated from the legal pot program during its first year, as well as $30 million for a cannabis business development fund.

The revenue will first be used to pay for the implementation of the program and cover expungement-related court costs. 

Beyond that, 35% of tax dollars will be added to the state’s general revenue fund; 25% will go toward areas that have been adversely affected by previous drug policies; 20% will be used to fund mental health and substance abuse programs; 10% will go into a fund dedicated to stabilizing the state budget; 8% will be allocated for law enforcement and the final 2% will be used for public education.

How does the social equity program work?

Democrats who led the legalization effort have touted the legislation’s efforts to address the toll of the drug war on black and brown communities.

The centerpiece of the legislation is a social equity program that will create a designation for minorities hoping to obtain licenses and provide minority-owned businesses support by offering technical assistance, loans and relief from fees that have posed a barrier to entry for those looking to crack into the state’s pot industry.

How will cannabis convictions be wiped clean?

Initially, the legalization bill included language that would have automatically expunged an estimated 800,000 weed-related convictions. Facing opposition, the bill’s sponsors scaled back the expungement provisions and created a different system for wiping clean those offenses.

Individuals with cannabis convictions involving up to 30 grams of pot can now be pardoned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker without having to initiate the clemency process. After that, state’s attorneys can petition the court to expunge records and a judge can direct police agencies and county clerks to clear them.

For convictions of 30 to 500 grams, state’s attorneys or individuals can petition the court to clear convictions.

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