The need for a statewide medical-marijuana program won’t go away if the Illinois General Assembly and Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker approve recreational use of cannabis in 2019, advocates of marijuana legalization say. Those crafting legislation to allow production and sales of recreational marijuana plan to include provisions ensuring that patients in the medical pilot program have […]
J.B. Pritzker
With Pritzker and Madigan on board, Illinois Dems push again for marijuana legalization
State Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy introduced legislation last March to legalize recreational cannabis in Illinois, but the bills failed in both houses of the Legislature. A lot has since changed in Illinois politics, and the Chicago Democrats now plan to give it another try. On Election Day, pro-pot Democrat J.B. Pritzker cruised to victory past […]
Illinois just elected a cannabis-friendly governor and Chicago pot companies are on the move
In the past six months, Illinois marijuana companies have gone public in Canada, raised hundreds of millions of dollars to fund expansions and consolidated through a number of deals — one topping $680 million. The state’s medical marijuana companies are moving at a fast and furious pace. They are largely past the days when growth was stagnant and there […]
Candidates for Illinois governor are split over marijuana legalization despite popular support
In supporting marijuana legalization, Illinois gubernatorial challenger J.B. Pritzker could usher in a change that affects everything from criminal justice to public health to the economy if he’s elected. In coming out against recreational use of cannabis, incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner may appeal to his base, while finding himself on the less popular side of […]
