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* Maybe the mayor should start paying closer attention. This proposal, which has resulted from two years of work, is not about a GRF revenue grab. If it was, then a whole lot more than 35 percent of the proceeds would be going to GRF. Politico…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel told Playbook that legalizing recreational marijuana can’t just be about cold hard cash and says that state should lawmakers slow down their legislative efforts on the drug… for now. “Don’t go head first into this just because we’re thirsty and hungry for revenue,” he said during an interview in his office.
The announcement this spring that Illinois had collected some $1.5 billion more in tax revenue than the state projected, creates a “lack of urgency,” and gives lawmakers a chance to carefully deliberate the marijuana bill, the mayor said. Balancing the concerns voiced by law enforcement, as well as some in the Legislative Black Caucus who are pressing on social justice issues, are crucial to success, Emanuel said. “We should tread carefully here.”
It sounds like the mayor is spending too much time reading erroneous Daily Herald editorials. That $1.5 billion in unexpected revenue is for this fiscal year, not next. No cannabis revenue will be collected this fiscal year. The $800 million in additional projected revenue for next fiscal year will all be gobbled up by pension payments. So, cannabis revenue will still be needed next fiscal year.
* The problem with law enforcement’s role in the talks is their lobbyists and supporters are trying to kill the bill while demanding more money. From what used to be the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service and then became the Franklin Center’s Illinois news outlet and is now something called The Center Square Illinois…
Proponents of a plan to tax and regulate recreational marijuana use for adults in Illinois plan to address a growing list of concerns, including how the tax money will be spent and how the state should treat people who were convicted of marijuana-related crimes in the past. […]
[Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington] said law enforcement should get more.
“They’re going to have to retrain dogs, they’re going to have to put new processes in place, they’re going to have to buy some equipment,” Barickman said. “All of these things suggest that for our [law enforcement], they’re going to need some money … so they don’t have to dip into their own pockets just to comply with this new law.”
Eight percent of the pie is already going to the Illinois Law Enforcement Standards and Training Board.
Law enforcement is also attempting to undermine the Black and Latino Caucus’ attempts to expunge arrest and conviction records. So… maybe the outgoing mayor could pick up a phone and talk to his police superintendent?
* May 6th statement from the person who will be Chicago’s mayor before any legalization bill is signed into law…
Mayor-Elect Lori E. Lightfoot releases statement on legislation to legalize recreational marijuana
“The recent legislation introduced is an important step forward in creating a fair process for legalizing recreational marijuana. More importantly, it allows Illinois the opportunity to put an end to a long overdue and unjust drug policy that has disproportionately affected Chicago’s black and brown neighborhoods for decades. I look forward to working with Gov. Pritzker, Rep. Cassidy, other members of the General Assembly, and other important stakeholders in Chicago to ensure safe and equitable legislation becomes law in Illinois.”
…Adding… Again, not a money grab…
New revenue estimates are in for cannabis program. @HeatherSteans says next year (FY 2020) it will bring in an estimated $56 million. In FY2021, the program is expected to bring in ~$140 million
— Jaclyn Driscoll (@DriscollNPR) May 15, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:43 am
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The Mayor Elect is coming across sane and rational. Well thought out and brief.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:48 am
I’ve been highly amused at Emanuel’s pontificating on his way out the door.
He’s just a chatterbox full of positions now that his own personal political hide is no longer on the line.
But it all adds up to just one man’s opinion, no more or less than any other regular schmuck’s.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:51 am
Who’s this “we,” mayor-for-four-more-days-dude? Well, goodbye.
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:52 am
Proponents/sponsors of the legalization say this is primarily not for revenue, but for criminal justice reform. We’re so overdue to relieve people of the criminalization of marijuana. How could we be going too fast when marijuana prohibition has failed abysmally and discriminated against certain communities for decades?
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:58 am
“Law enforcement is also attempting to undermine the Black and Latino Caucus’ attempts to expunge arrest and conviction records.”
Pointing out that the bill has considerable constitutional problems related to expungement is not exactly the same as undermining the bill
“The bill essentially would create legislative pardons, which are illegal, said Robert Berlin, president of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association”
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/marijuana-bill-may-violate-illinois-constitution-prosecutors-say/article_051c380f-353a-5827-a31a-d02601fff71c.html
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:59 am
Investors in the Michigan Cannabis industry are praying Illinois drops the ball.
Comment by Al Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 10:59 am
===
They’re going to have to retrain dogs, they’re going to have to put new processes in place, they’re going to have to buy some equipment
===
Marijuana has been decriminalized for how long now? What were the police doing this whole time? Nothing?
If they need more money, they can just dip into their asset forfeiture fund. That’s what it is supposed to be for, right?
I’m not a blind supporter or detractor of the police in general, but the public statements put out by those representing the police in these past few months is starting to change my perception of the police. And it’s not moving in a favorable way for them. I doubt I’m alone in this. They need to reel this in, and realize they are public servants, not legislators.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:04 am
Remember that time ILETSB threatened to kill all the police dogs if we legalized pot? Real serious thinkers there. https://amp.bnd.com/news/local/article210695299.html
Comment by LakeviewJ Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:06 am
==Remember that time ILETSB threatened to kill all the police dogs if we legalized pot? Real serious thinkers there.==
So if a police dog signals his policeman trainer that a drug is present, and that drug now happens to be legal, wouldn’t the policeman not arrest the target? The dog would still be able to smell drugs that were currently illegal. There would be no need to retain or kill the dog.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:18 am
I think the marijuana thing right now suffers from the two mints in one mixed message. Is it primarily to raise revenue for the state? Is it primarily criminal justice reform? Is it that people just want to get high and grow their own? How ou sell it matters. This has shades of the county soda tax mess up. That, too, never had a a strong dominant message for either revenue or public health– and many people were suspicious of the motives.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:27 am
==they’re going to have to put new processes in place==
To do what? Their job won’t change one iota if marijuana is legalized for recreational use. Are they expecting the rise of ‘Alfonso Capone’?
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:28 am
No matter how many months or years a complex piece of legislation is discussed, researched, negotiated and redesigned, opponents will always claim it’s being rushed through.
Comment by walker Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:29 am
I did something last night I rarely do–I turned off Chicago Tonight. Rahm just wouldn’t shut up and I don’t want to listen to him anymore.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:29 am
Please let’s not make law enforcement hypocrites. They think legal marijuana bad then they should not profit from it. Dogs are notoriously bad at detecting drugs miss way too many times. I can’t believe is allowed but guess we no longer have a Warren Court
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:31 am
I stopped taking the go slow position seriously when Rep. Moylan came out against legalization entirely. This is just naysaying and bellyaching from people who just don’t want legalization or don’t realize they are being used.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:37 am
Heard Rahm on the morning sports radio program yesterday and today on WGN Cochran. Desperately rewriting one’s legacy, spinning away problems which worsened on his watch, dropping broad hints that the Riverwalk should be named in his honor, and suddenly taking credit for the Chicago Fire now returning to playing games in Chicago yet being unable to explain his opposition to public funding of Wrigley Field remodeling while he used public funds to build DePaul a basketball arena?
Go quietly, dude. All that noise you are generating is just that . . . noise.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:39 am
–This has shades of the county soda tax mess up.–
Does it? I don’t recall any polling showing 66% in favor of a pop tax.
You’ve built a strawman that there needs to be a single “strong dominant message” on marijuana legalization to garner public support.
The public support is already there, for whatever many reasons people choose. Some may even have the mental capacity to favor it for more than one reason.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:48 am
It is not a pardon. Prior convictions should be expunged because of legalization.
Comment by Common sense illinoian Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 11:53 am
–..unable to explain his opposition to public funding of Wrigley Field remodeling while he used public funds to build DePaul a basketball arena?–
That’s odd; pretty easy explanation.
Wrigley Field is a private, for-profit venue owned by billionaires.
DePaul is a non-profit institution and split the construction costs with McPier, which can use the venue for revenue-generating events and in conjunction with the McCormick Place campus.
Emanuel could have added that the Ricketts made it impossible to get City Council approval for any billionaire handouts for Wrigley when it was revealed that the old man was planning to fund a multi-million-dollar negative TV campaign against Obama in the 2012 election.
City Council politicians were going to give corporate welfare to right-wing GOP partisan billionaire who had the money to go after the most popular politician in the city? Absurd.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:09 pm
I agree with posters here, it’s a mixed message. Legalize first, that’s most important. Stop criminalizing a behavior based on myth, lies, and racial and ethnic prejudice.
Comment by trueallday Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:30 pm
If you think pot, a naturally grown substance, statistically less harmful than alcohol, and abused similarly to alcohol, should, under the same rational, be legal,
And, if you think white-majority local law enforcement, white-majority courts, and white-majority local governments used pot prohibition to selectively target minority groups, in part to fund generous pay and benefits for white-majority government employees,
Why would you listen to the opinion of the benefactors of prohibition? They are the problem.
Comment by Merica Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:32 pm
=I did something last night I rarely do–I turned off Chicago Tonight. Rahm just wouldn’t shut up and I don’t want to listen to him anymore=
I was pretty amused by Rahm on Chicago tonight. I wondered out louder if maybe he had a drink or two before the show.
Comment by Because I Said So.... Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:41 pm
Passing such major, controversial legislation in Illinois would require a major, well funded campaign, coordinating public education, uniting with a common message, and combating opponents’ messages with professionals seasoned in campaign war room tactics. Does such exist?
Comment by vole Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:42 pm
===Passing such major, controversial legislation===
lol
Over 60 percent of the public supports this.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:07 pm
Between the incredibly high levels of dumb coming out of the dem party on this issue and the (probably) criminal actions of sen. van pelt, maybe it’s for the best that they give up on this idea for this year. I’d like it to become law ASAP, but they can’t seem to stop embarrassing themselves on what should be a very easy win. And frankly I have no faith that JB is going to figure out how to push this through before June 1.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:24 pm
Part of the problem is advocates surrender the high ground to racist by using the made up M word. It is Cannabis people.
Comment by Al Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:28 pm
@wordslinger, Rahm claimed he was totally opposed to public funding of new arenas/stadiums, claiming the city/public never wins in these situations. He did not distinguish between profit or not-for-profits. Then when asked about the new arena paid for on the public dime . . . he basically changed the subject.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:46 pm
“Over 60 percent of the public supports this.”
Which, in Illinois, translates into a 40% or less chance of passing the not so progressive state legislature.
Comment by vole Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:50 pm
Louis, MPEA calls it “a multi-purpose general session hall for business meetings and conventions as well as a venue for concerts, sporting events and other major special events.”
Also, he did not have to distinguish between profit or non-for-profit because Wintrust is owned by the public.
But seriously, your main beef with Rahm was because he wouldn’t give the billionaire Ricketts’ family any public money to help them destroy Wrigleyville? That’s the hill you want to die on?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:54 pm