Earlier this month, Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried to clarify one vague aspect of the new state law, which bans the consumption of cannabis in “public spaces.” Does that mean lighting up anywhere on your own property is OK? Not OK? Lightfoot said that as far as Chicago is concerned, using cannabis in your own backyard or on your balcony is fine. She added that Chicago police officers are being trained “how they should use discretion in their enforcement powers to educate residents on the new legalization laws.” If the result is that all officers apply that discretion fairly and equally as everyone gets comfortable with the sudden visible use of a once-illegal drug, we’ll be both pleased, and surprised.
Im sure they will be watching the border’s but you can bet I’ll try to bootleg some to Indiana. At least it’s 1 more state going legal, thats good news.
I’m in a very conservative state, but even many conservative state legislators have been pushing for legalization of medical cannabis.
I am personally looking forward to getting there as I have a number of conditions that would qualify for a medical marijuana card and my doctor has no problem with it.
Gotcha. I’m assuming by Chicago reference that’s NW Indiana. You wouldn’t be terribly far from me if that’s the case.
Anyway, the bill passed is kind of a joke in comparison to what was originally written. No recreational growing, and tight plant count for medical card holders to grow. The part that kills me is the extremely high cost of licensing. If you come from a community “hit hard by cannabis prohibition” they are using tax proceeds to assist you in start up. What most don’t realize is that the state grandfathered all existing licenses to something like 200,000 ft² canopies, but are only issuing new licenses for something like 5000 ft² canopy. All of the new businesses won’t stand a chance, and that will eventually lead to pissing away the tax money invested. Another notable is that IL didn’t distinguish the difference between flower and extract until this bill goes into effect.
This is more of a political thing than a cannabis thing. But within a year or two they will be complaining that it doesn’t bring the revenue they expected.
Medical marijuana patients would be allowed to grow five plants at a time. But non-patients are not allowed to grow marijuana at home – punishable by a civil penalty of $200 for growing up to five plants.
Only Illinois’ 20 existing licensed medical marijuana cultivation facilities will be licensed to grow marijuana initially. In 2020, “craft growers” will be able to apply for licenses to cultivate up to 5,000 square feet.
“Illinois already has a law on the books that makes drivers with THC blood concentration of five nanograms or more per milliliter [guilty] of driving under the influence, regardless of whether the driver is impaired. The new law creates a DUI Task Force led by Illinois State Police to examine best practices for roadside testing.”
Anyone who consumes regularly will maintain a blood level above this. Standard DOT and employment tests the level to 6 times that level at 30ng/ml.
