Cannabis legalization is spreading to the midwest in a historic turn of events. Myths became fact when a contentious debate in Springfield came back with The Senate approving recreational cannabis in Illinois. The House of Representatives came down to a vote of 66-47 in favor. The bill is currently awaiting the signature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has always been in support of freeing the herb.
Illinois will join the ranks as the 11th state to legalize cannabis. They’re also the first state where a legislature approved commercial sales, instead of through a ballot measure. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will make it legal to possess and purchase up to 30 grams of cannabis per 21+ adult. Non-residents will be able to purchase and carry half that amount. The legislation will establish an inclusive, regulated market for cultivators, retail stores, and testing labs, per Marijuana Policy Project.
With the prairie state largely sitting at the hub of the Midwest, it’s important to consider what kind of chain reaction legalization may create. This piece of legislation alone will make a sizeable impact on crime statistics in the state. According to the Illinois State Policy Advisory Council, there are around 770,000 cannabis-related cases that are eligible for expungement. These two driving factors alone could create a widespread movement in the midwest causing legal cannabis profits to rise quite quickly.
Rising Cannabis Culture
With 770,000 eligible cases regarding cannabis charges, there has to be even more still within the Illinois justice system. With this in mind, it’s safe to assume there are a lot of residents of Illinois that have been given charges for carrying small amounts of cannabis. It’s then not a far stretch to say that there is an obvious community of recreational and medical cannabis consumers within the state.
There will be automatic expungements of cannabis cases where possession was below 30 grams. Moving forward, the fact that residents will be able to carry up to 30 grams on them, or products of no more than 500mg of THC, or five grams of concentrates, is huge. This will basically allow a huge demographic of cannabis consumers to cease living underground, and start openly showing love for Mary Jane. This translates to stimulating the economy and business overall.
Tourism
Allowing non-residents to enter the state of Illinois and purchase up to 15 grams of cannabis, 250mg of THC in an infused product, or 2.5 grams of concentrate is generous. As a tourist, being able to carry essentially a half-ounce of cannabis is presumably more than enough to do the trick.
Cannabis tourism is an extremely lucrative field to enter, as states like Las Vegas, California, and Washington are setting themselves up to be the next Amsterdam. With Illinois being home to the bustling O’Hare airport, it’s safe to assume tourists will at least be partaking amidst a lengthy layover.
