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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Illinois Becomes 11th State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana [bloomberg.com]

Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize recreational marijuana, becoming the 11th U.S. state to do so and bolstering Governor J.B. Pritzker's efforts to shore up the finances of the cash-strapped state.

The House of Representatives Friday passed the measure [ilga.gov] that allows the purchase and possession of cannabis by those who are 21 and older starting in 2020. The Senate approved the bill on Wednesday. Pritzker, who took office in January, had made legalization a key platform in his campaign [jbpritzker.com] and said soon after the legislation passed that he will sign it. The billionaire Democrat's budget proposal for the year that starts July 1 included an estimated $170 million from the sale of producer licenses.

Illinois joins a growing movement to end the prohibition of the drug: ten other states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational pot in the past seven years, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures [ncsl.org]. Illinois's move follows Michigan, potentially creating a hub in the Midwest after efforts to legalize in New Jersey [bloomberg.com] and New York stalled [bloomberg.com] earlier this year.

Vermont was the first state to legalize cannabis through an act of the legislature. Illinois is now the second state.

Also at Chicago Tribune [chicagotribune.com].

See also: llinois state lawmaker uses eggs to demonstrate 'your brain on drugs' [thehill.com]
Legalizing marijuana is a victory for freedom in Illinois [chicagotribune.com]

Previously: Vermont Legislature Passes Cannabis Legalisation Bill [soylentnews.org]
Following Years of Opposition, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Plans Cannabis Legalization [soylentnews.org]

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