Cannabis roundup
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is an interesting development…
A statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Illinoisans:
“Equality Illinois is proud to endorse SB 7, the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act. LGBTQ people use cannabis at more than double the rates of non-LGBTQ people according to data from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health sponsored by the US Department of Health & Human Services. The criminalization of cannabis use therefore disproportionately harms the LGBTQ community. By legalizing cannabis for recreational use by anyone over the age of 21, SB 7 has the potential to reduce the number of LGBTQ people caught up in Illinois’ criminal justice system.”
“We are strongly encouraged by the bill authors’ attempts to put racial and restorative justice at the heart of SB 7. Communities of color, including LGBTQ communities of color, have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis criminalization. A 2013 report issued by the ACLU highlighted that despite roughly equal rates of cannabis usage by white and African American communities in the United States, African Americans were nearly four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis position than white Americans. The current bill places justice for communities of color at the center by seeking an equitable solution to the historic disproportionate impact of criminalization in communities of color by the War on Drugs.”
“We know SB 7 will continue to evolve as the bill authors and supporters seek to lay the foundation of a new legal industry that is good for all of Illinois’ working families. We look forward to continuing to engage as the bill moves through the General Assembly.”
* Always keep in mind that the people who argue for the status quo are in essence protecting an illegal and sometimes violent criminal network from legal competition…
A Naperville man faces felony charges after police say he shot two men during a drug deal late Saturday. Yusuf Syed, 19, of the 200 block of Concord Road, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and one count of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.
Your friendly neighborhood licensed cannabis dispensary owner will not shoot you.
* Not a good look…
Republicans said Tuesday that it’s unlikely any member of the GOP will even consider voting to legalize marijuana, so long as its includes the Black Caucus’ priorities — including a robust expungement program — that they aren’t prepared to support.
Oof.
* More from Hannah’s story…
Senate sponsor State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) told The Daily Line Tuesday that Welter’s complaints — or the complaints of any other lawmaker who doesn’t appreciate the devastating effects that cannabis prohibition has had on black and brown neighborhoods — belies his lack of understanding of the equity issue the Black Caucus and other progressives are fighting for in bill negotiations.
“I do not understand how we can legalize and normalize the use of a product and then give rich people in suits the ability to participate in an activity that has destroyed whole communities,” Hutchinson said. “I don’t understand how you can look at one of those things and not see the nexus for the other…how is it that you think this is not connected or worth talking about. And frankly, believing it’s not worth talking about says more about the person making that statement than the issue at hand.”
Hutchinson also said she didn’t buy the Republican line that the governor’s office was choosing to turn away from Republican votes on the bill in favor of Black Caucus votes.
“It’s a false choice,” she said. “I don’t accept that choice.”
House sponsor State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) agreed, calling it a “false dichotomy,” adding that it’s also “premature” for Republicans to take a stand on a bill that hasn’t even been finalized yet.
Yep. A new draft is coming. Everybody should just chill out for a minute.
* The sponsors say this will be fixed as well…
Since its inception, the Illinois medical marijuana program has been shrouded in secrecy, with the government denying requests for information about who owns the grow houses and dispensaries.
Lawmakers had said they would rectify that issue when it came to legalizing marijuana for recreational use — but the proposed law appears in part to maintain secrecy for organizations applying to operate retail pot stores.
On page 150 of the 533-page bill, the measure states that all application information for adult-use dispensing organizations, down to their addresses, is exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act and “not subject to disclosure.”
All complaints and investigations of the retail stores, except for criminal records, also would be kept secret under the proposal.
The passage seems to conflict with a later section governing licensed cannabis businesses, which states that all cannabis business applications to the state are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
Looks like a drafting problem.
* Other stuff…
* Medical marijuana growers would get first shot at retail market in Illinois under proposal to legalize recreational sales: Cresco Labs more than doubled the amount of marijuana it could grow at its Joliet facility last year and has construction underway to do the same at its Lincoln facility. It also added technology and automation to make its products consistently on a large scale for a recreational market, spokesman Jason Erkes said. Bedford Grow has four grow rooms at its cultivation facility in Bedford Park, each with a layer of cannabis plants. But a space currently used for storage could be converted into eight more grow rooms, said Paul Chialdikas, vice president of sales and marketing. It could further increase capacity in each room by going vertical and adding layers of plants. Given all the expansion underway, Chialdikas said a shortage is unlikely. Still, operators will have to prove they can meet demand.
* 5 things you didn’t know were in the Illinois weed bill: 1. No drive-through dope. Dispensaries shall not operate drive-through windows or cannabis vending machines, the legislation says. (They also cannot operate a dispensary if its video-surveillance equipment isn’t working, nor can they have fewer than two people working at the dispensary at any time while the dispensary is open.)
* Lynn Sweet: My visit to a retail cannabis store in Los Angeles: Lots of products, hipster vibe
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:29 am:
On an somewhat related note with Toy Story 4 about to be released, I can’t read Cannabis roundup without thinking of the song Woody’s Roundup
Where the Naperville shooting happened was sort of peak Naperville, next to a huge fitness center and across 75th from where Whole Foods is.
- PJ - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:30 am:
Republicans in this state are such abject losers. What do they not understand about super-minority? They were invited to the table. They can either participate or pout that a large faction of the *super-majority party* is being preferred to their own regressive demands.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:30 am:
==the measure states that all application information for adult-use dispensing organizations, down to their addresses, is exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act and “not subject to disclosure.”==
Is this to provide some protection from the feds?
- sulla - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:31 am:
What are your guys’ odds that some form of a cannabis legalization bill gets passed this session?
- efudd - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:33 am:
The GOP against the expungement of non-violent criminal offenses for people of color? An act that could make it easier for said people to acquire lawful employment.
In the next breath they’ll tell you, with a straight face, how they are for inclusion of everyone.
And so many will believe it.
- Out Here In The Middle - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:35 am:
I have to assume that I am not the only person who gets suspicious when specific information like this is declared ‘exempt’ from FOIA.
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:37 am:
What do we have a week and a half left of the session? Nothing like taking it down to the wire. I am glad lawmakers are talking about doing this but the results so far do not exactly exhude confidence.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:40 am:
===Nothing like taking it down to the wire===
I don’t like it either, but that’s how they do things in this town.
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:41 am:
if there was something new to help me chill out….
- Jocko - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:41 am:
The ILGOP wants to stay on the right side of history…provided it’s 1955.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:42 am:
–Not a good look.–
Just like the virtually unanimous GOP vote against marriage equality, this “look” might be exactly what they’re hoping to communicate to likely GOP primary voters.
@hannahmeisel
1h1 hour ago
–More Hannah Meisel Retweeted Daily Line Illinois
Rep @DavidAWelter says his GOP colleagues could’ve put 8-10 votes on a marijuana legalization bill, but not any more due to the Black Caucus’ insistence over expungement. –
Coulda, woulda, delivered a super-minority of a super-minority caucus? Talk about some good-faith, bipartisan heavy-lifting.
No worries, your checks are in the mail.
- Al - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:47 am:
More sunlight. We need to know who owns Cannabis manufacturing centers and need audited reports of financial activity similar to Casinos. We need the financial disclosure of the Liquor Warehousemen too.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:48 am:
It’s terrible that the so-called party of Christian values, the ILGOP, won’t support expunging the low-level crimes of African-Americans and others disproportionately hurt by marijuana prohibition. The ILGOP is content with the views of the past and with catering to its shrinking white base. Too bad. Legalizing marijuana with expungements would be one way for the GOP to begin expanding its base.
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:48 am:
What? No drive thru? I was looking forward to a Taco Bell connected to my dispensary
- XonXoff - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 10:52 am:
Thanks for the updates. If nothing else, the Dems still on HB157 should be flooded with calls and emails right about now. If Republicans want to hang their hats on the Black Caucus and expungements, maybe they’ll get some calls, too. Maybe not.
I’ll be away the next couple weeks so while I’m thinking of it, I’d like to thank Rich Miller and Capitol Fax readers for the opportunity to discuss Illinois cannabis legislation here, in what I feel is a very fairly moderated and civil environment. Moderating contentious comments can be a real lot of work. I did it for a couple decades. Rich only moderated me a couple times but I view this as his gathering and I’m absolutely good with that. I hope the traffic around cannabis discussions has been a bit of a windfall for the site.
I’d also like to thank Sen. Steans, Rep. Cassidy and the other ladies (and gentlemen) who have worked so hard on SB7 and former iterations for so long. I know several of them had events in their lives that would have made it nearly impossible for many to retain their commitment to this. And Governor Pritzker for his part. It’s nice to at least feel some reform is finding its way into areas of government.
If law enforcement (my opinion) is indeed successful in nixing homegrow from SB7, but it’s allowed for medical patients, I won’t have much more to contribute on how the rest of the bill shakes out. I think they’ll ultimately be forced to offload some ballast on expungements but it was smart to have baked it into the original bill.
But I’m not about to play the healthcare system or wish ill on myself just to grow some cannabis plants in the Illinois medical program. For somewhere north of 40 years I’ve dreamed that I’d live to see the day when I could tend a few cannabis plants at home without fear of legal problems and I want to do it while I can still carry my own water. As an avid gardener, and responsible adult, I’m considerably more interested in tending the plants than I am in actually being high all the time. It’s a beautiful and fascinating plant, like many others we grow that are simply enjoyed and neither smoked nor eaten. I don’t consume more than about $35.00 worth of a nice IPA, scotch, or wine in an average month and doubt I’d ever spend much buying cannabis again, either. So I’m not a good prospect for the whole tax and form-a-giant-new-industry versions of what we envisioned as “marijuana reform” in my younger days.
The only things truly standing in my way of growing are a couple more years, a final decision on our part, house sale, and scheduling the moving van. Trying to do reform via IL GA voting is like pushing a chain. And the state leaks taxpayer money like a sieve so it’s not only about cannabis. Much of our family left years ago for various reasons. In the immortal words of fellow Illinoisan, Kevin Cronin, “I believe it’s time for me to fly.”
For those 62% in Moylan’s district who favor legalization, I really hope you show that guy the door at your next opportunity. Let him enjoy his SAM 2019 Advocate of the Year award in peace, as his last great act of defiance. Oh, and for Pete’s sake, stay off his lawn.
I’ll peek in now and then but wanted to thank a few folks while I can. Good luck, all. And thanks.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:02 am:
In the old days, when someone was driving really slowly in front of you, you knew they were high, now it’s that they are texting or looking at their phones. Now it will be that they are high again. Great.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:06 am:
===Now it will be that they are high again. Great. ===
Did I miss the fact that everybody stopped smoking weed in the past 10 years?
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:13 am:
So Senator VanPelt could actually own a growing place and we would never know it?
Whoever owns and invests in these things should be public record
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:14 am:
==What are your guys’ odds that some form of a cannabis legalization bill gets passed this session?==
7/2
- State of DenIL - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:19 am:
This expungement is not for violent offenders nor is it for drug kingpins. Why exactly is this a debate?
R’s would argue that the earth is flat if it helped them hold their already tomato-red districts.
Yes I know they do that already.
- lakeside - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:20 am:
==Republicans said Tuesday that it’s unlikely any member of the GOP will even consider voting to legalize marijuana, so long as its includes the Black Caucus’ priorities==
And a thousand mailers were born.
What could be their actual beef with keeping people on non-violent weed conviction in jail? Tell me what purpose that serves, ye of the pull-yourself-up-bootstraps-etc camp?
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Republicans gonna Republican. Will any House Democrats break with the go slow resolution and provide just enough votes to pass?
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Regarding odds, earlier in the session I thought it was close to 100%. Now more like 50% / 50%. With limited knowledge it is hard to guage. I still don’t like all of those democrats in the house signing up for Moylan’s bill to slow down cannabis legalization. Hopefully enough of them fall in line to get the job done.
- Illinois Resident - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:27 am:
With Michigan legalizing, you would think lawmakers on the fence would move forward. Michigan is a short drive away. Really silly to think that you can stop this.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:29 am:
–This expungement is not for violent offenders nor is it for drug kingpins. Why exactly is this a debate?–
It’s not. It’s one of many transparently dishonest excuses by opponents to kill the whole deal.
GOP members are scared of attacks on their right flanks for expunging records of those people from Chicago. You know who I mean.
- {Sigh} - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:40 am:
Someone should take a closer look at language allowing the current industry to transition their current dispensary license to adult use and allowing them to get a second site… all of this happens before the public can apply for a license. This is another barrier for women and minorities to enter the industry, as it will be dominated by the current medical industry.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 11:51 am:
=Your friendly neighborhood licensed cannabis dispensary owner will not shoot you.=
I wonder what Wherli thinks of all the commotion in Naperville?
Ok, that was a lie. I don’t care what he thinks (if he actually thinks).
- Olivia Pope - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 12:02 pm:
=* 5 things you didn’t know were in the Illinois weed bill: 1. No drive-through dope. Dispensaries shall not operate drive-through windows or cannabis vending machines, the legislation says. (They also cannot operate a dispensary if its video-surveillance equipment isn’t working, nor can they have fewer than two people working at the dispensary at any time while the dispensary is open.)=
Uh. That is current law for the medical cannabis industry.
- Illinois res - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
November of 2020 new president , new agenda.
- Interim Retiree - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
===Did I miss the fact that everybody stopped smoking weed in the past 10 years?===
Sorry, Rich - smoking it, yes … we just haven’t been inhaling the past 10 years.
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
== What could be their actual beef with keeping people on non-violent weed conviction in jail? Tell me what purpose that serves, ye of the pull-yourself-up-bootstraps-etc camp? ==
Don’t agree with it, but I can expalin why it works for their base (whom I suspect isn’t thrilled with legalization in general).
It’s a law-and-order thing, we don’t speeding tickets in areas where the speed limit was increased. A good law-and-order Republican voter is wondering why what was (and still is) illegal activity is going to be ‘forgiven’, Republican voters (and to a degree people in general) view themselves as those who follow to rules. Some may see forgiveness as ‘rewarding those who did wrong’ or ‘people getting something I am not getting’.
People getting something you are not getting, not getting because you ‘followed the rules’ is a strong political theme, be in this or even fair tax. The idea that someone is ‘taking advantange’ be it real, precevied or completely BS is the theme of many a campagin. The ‘they’ be it folks who broke MJ laws and were caught or be those who make over 250K a year are getting some advantage that you can not take advantage of.
Don’t agree with it, but I understand why the argument works with those who define as Republican voters.
- Towelie - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
Don’t forget to bring a towel.
- consmom - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
32nd Ward and Rich - I know I’ve said this before, so I should just give up, but legalizing it removes the stigma, so use will go up. So no, people haven’t stopped smoking it, but will there be more people using it once it’s legal? Absolutely. Based on what I read in comments here, it sounds like once it’s legal, everyone is going to be going about their day high. Sorry, but I can’t see that as a good thing. Also, I’ve also said that I am concerned about use by teenagers. Every single article about the dangers of marijuana use states that it adversely affects the developing brain, leading to loss in memory and cognitive function and also increasing risks of psychiatric disorders. You are fooling yourself if you think that making it legal won’t increase use by teenagers. And don’t say, well, we’ll educate them. We educate them about the dangers of alcohol, yet many are drinking by the time they are 14 or 15. They get sex-ed, but they’re still having sex. Their brains are not fully developed, so they make bad decisions, etc., despite all that knowledge. So by all means, let’s contribute to that and make pot more readily available to them.
- LetsLegalizeIt - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
I just don’t understand republicans. For that matter, I’m not impressed with democrats in Illinois, either. If we can’t pass the strictest legalization bill in the country, with even Michigan having passed something with higher limits on possession and home row, and with a democrat super majority, after 2.5 years of work into it and with the democrat governor already declaring a budget counting it in, then when will we pass it?
Meanwhile, alcohol is available everywhere with no one even trying to limit it.
- LetsLegalizeIt - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
== Based on what I read in comments here, it sounds like once it’s legal, everyone is going to be going about their day high. ==
Wow. Just wow. Even though 10 states have legalized and the entire country of Canada, you think the sky is going to fall when we legalize. Wow. Michigan legalized already and reported no such problems.
I know this comment will be removed by Rich, but you’re being ridiculous. I worry that people like you can drive and vote.
- BerryOG - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:33 pm:
I am very skeptical. I don’t think a bill will pass. I would like them to prove me wrong, oh so I would like it. Being a fiscally conservative dude, republicans annoy the heck out of me….
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:47 pm:
– but legalizing it removes the stigma, so use will go up. So no, people haven’t stopped smoking it, but will there be more people using it once it’s legal? Absolutely.–
Please share how you arrived at these absolute conclusions.
Are you a swami? Crystal ball? Time machine?
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
“You are fooling yourself if you think that making it legal won’t increase use by teenagers”
Studies show teen use went down in Colorado and Washington after marijuana legalization. So fear of increased teen use is just that, Reefer Madness.
If you’re a Democratic GA member spreading around the old paranoia, you need a primary opponent.
- Excessively Rabid - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 2:17 pm:
On the one hand, I just want them to go on and get this done already. I look at a lot of the anti arguments being raised as just a smoke screen. On the other hand, I have a family member living in the Santa Barbara area and I follow some of the local news in the Santa Barbara independent. California left a lot up to the localities and Santa Barbara County is having some pretty big flaps over pot: The grow houses smell like skunks. The wineries don’t like it next to their many-million-dollar event venues. The neighbors were already mad at the wineries because of the traffic and the drunks and the noise and the busloads of obnoxious people at bachelorette parties or whatever, and they don’t like this either. The only insecticide that really works for avocados poisons the pot next door. And the parties can’t even agree on what they’re arguing about. This is the latest in the paper from one of the county supervisors in the thick of it: https://www.independent.com/2019/05/15/countering-cannabis-propaganda/
- TopHatMonocle - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
– but legalizing it removes the stigma, so use will go up. So no, people haven’t stopped smoking it, but will there be more people using it once it’s legal? Absolutely.–
Alcohol is legal. If you show up to work drunk, you get fired. If you drive drunk, you get arrested. Same with cannabis despite its legal status. How is this hard to understand.
- XonXoff - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 3:53 pm:
– …then when will we pass it?–
HR157 added another (D) co-sponsor (Crespo) yesterday.
I’ll go with “last” in response to your question.
- frisbee - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 4:40 pm:
It only took a decade for Illinois to let the sick and dying have access to a plant, i imagine it will take a few legislative sessions for Illinois to grant all of its adult residents access to that same plant material.
- A guy - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 4:49 pm:
==Please share how you arrived at these absolute conclusions.==
More people who should be using it but feared breaking the law. That would be a good increase.
- Bourbon Street - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 4:54 pm:
Teens are going to smoke weed whether or not it’s legal. Do we really want to continue our policy of saddling them and others with convictions that could haunt them the rest of their lives? I think not.
- Mcview 420 - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 5:19 pm:
Cannot wait until this is passed. Tired of the ticky tack going on. Will definitely stop commenting on all sites and will be waiting for 1/1/2020.
- Inside lookin out - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 5:51 pm:
It will pass as last vote and cars packed and running.
- Charlie kilo - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 5:59 pm:
Anyone who thinks that sb7 still has a chance to pass this session is clearly ignorant. They have 6 business days left to formally introduce the bill (something that should’ve happened months ago), pass it through the Senate, AND THEN the house. And opponents intentionally waited until the last minute to express concerns about parts of the bill they already knew it was going to include. Obviously an attempt to stall the bill and ultimately kill it. Meanwhile Jay Bob is ready to roll over on the home grow provision just because the police are whining that their cut isn’t going to be enough. Bribing police and other opposition, not including ANY funding for education, and creating a monopoly by continuing to criminalize home growing, as well as property seizures for those who get caught. This is NOT social justice. I’ve been following the reform in Illinois for years, even before Quinn signed the medical bill, and I’m no longer able to support the joke of a bill they’re trying to pass.
- The Dude - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 7:39 pm:
Charlie kilo…you must be new to how the state works
“They have 6 business days left to formally introduce the bill”
That’s status quo.
- Johnnie F. - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 8:07 pm:
I don’t know, but I think the pension reform bill from several years ago sailed through both houses in one afternoon.
- Pundent - Wednesday, May 22, 19 @ 8:21 pm:
Consmom - 60% of those polled favor the legalization of cannabis. If we’re to accept your “logic” they’re all stoned or will be as soon as the stigma is removed.
- Con - Thursday, May 23, 19 @ 4:35 am:
Mom?
- Vincent - Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:54 am:
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