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* We talked about this cannabis legalization press release the other day…
“For generations, government policy of mass incarceration increased racial disparities by locking up thousands of individuals for marijuana use or possession,” said State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), the legislation’s chief co-sponsor in the Senate. “Now, as we are discussing legalization, it is of the utmost importance that we learn from these mistakes and acknowledge the lingering effects these policies continue to have in neighborhoods across this state. No conversation about legalization can happen absent that conversation.” […]
“We’re not just trying to add diversity because it looks good. It’s not just diversity for diversity’s sake. It’s for equity’s sake; equity includes economics, it includes criminal justice,” said State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, who is the chief co-sponsor of the legislation in the House. “We’re talking about specific communities that need to be made whole. When this is all normal and nice and people are making money, we will not have succeeded if black people and other people of color are shut out.” […]
“It is important that we work together to establish an adult use cannabis market that works for everyone,” said State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, the legislation’s House sponsor. “We’re contemplating additional license categories such as craft cultivation, transportation and processing to ensure that everyone is at the table. These will create space for more innovation and entrepreneurship in the industry, but more importantly, provide opportunity for more diversity in an industry with a pressing need for it.”
Again, those are the legislative architects of the legalization bill. And it’s abundantly clear from their comments here and elsewhere that diversity and addressing past wrongs is very high on their priority list and always has been.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the legislators’ efforts to date when he was at the Daily Herald editorial board…
They’ve done a pretty good job of putting at least the basics together for a bill.
There are pieces of it that I think need to be enhanced and we’re certainly talking to them about those pieces.
For example, I’m very focused on making sure that communities of color, which have been most burdened by the war on drugs, have the ability to get licenses.
The sponsors have asked the governor for a point person on this topic and didn’t get one. They asked for a briefing on Pritzker’s licensing fee plan and didn’t get one. But they did get called out publicly by the governor for not adequately addressing something they… were already diligently working on.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 11:55 am
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Eh, he didn’t give them proper credit, but he didn’t exactly bash them either.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:05 pm
The lack of gubernatorial direction and staff to engage with is coming up a lot these days from lawmakers.
Pritzker’s the boss — he needs to light a fire under BPIA(TM) (Best Paid in America) to get them more personally involved in their jobs.
There was two months during the transition to get ready. It’s now March. Giddyup.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:11 pm
===Best Paid in America===
Oof.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:13 pm
What are the specifics of what the sponsors want for the addressing the alleged racial disparities? Is it equity, preference, and/or reparations?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:16 pm
Agreed it is a bit disappointing that Pritzker has strongly advocated for cannabis legalization but appears to not be helping the process as much as he could. Hopefully this changes asap. May is coming quick.
Comment by Illinois Resident Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:18 pm
That one’s gonna leave a mark, wordslinger.
But, yes, they’re going to have to stop leaning into ‘we’re new here,’ directly or implicitly, pretty soon (i.e., now). It’s only been two months, but four percent of the term is already up; ten percent will be done by the end of Session. There’s no training wheels time.
Comment by lakeside Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:20 pm
How hard is this? Steans and JB are personal friends, aside from being political allies. Can they really not jump on the phone with each other and some staff for half an hour and get on the same page for a bill they both want to pass?
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:26 pm
Maybe it isn’t the war on drugs that has burdened those communities, maybe its the drugs.
Comment by Unpopular Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:26 pm
@wordslinger
Nice one.
To the post:
Politics is relationship management at its core in my estimation. These legislators are professionals, but I’m guessing their patience is starting to wear thin. I just this won’t start causing lasting damage to the legislative relationships he’s gonna need down the road.
And, at the end of the day, Pritzker and his administration need to start being part of the starting squad getting the work done; not just the bench-warmers grumbling about how they could’ve made a play better. Take off the warm-ups and get out there if you can do it so much better.
Still I’m hopeful they’ll get into the game soon.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:28 pm
Who says money can’t buy the greatest staff ever?
BPIA who refuse to work could not be a better representation of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:31 pm
Governors own, good and bad.
We’re happy to see Rauner defeated, but that doesn’t give JB a bye in governing. We need a leader who will put more effort into the process than writing checks. Engage.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:38 pm
There were plenty of signs during the campaign that JB is not a particularly hands on guy. The unpopularity of his opponent, his winning smile, and the gobs of money Pritzker had to throw at the campaign muted some of that lack of attention to detail for a while. I agree with those who say he (and his staff) need to up their game–like immediately.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:39 pm
==Maybe it isn’t the war on drugs that has burdened those communities, maybe its the drugs.==
Sure. It’s the weed that white, black, and brown people all smoke that’s been the problem, not the wildly disproportionate rates at which the black and brown ones are arrested for it. Statistics are definitely on your side here, champ.
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:39 pm
Could it be JB wants to slow walk this process and possibly space out the effect of the progressive win for 15 min wage. Maybe I’m giving him too much credit, but seems like a good strategy to take your time on legalization.
Comment by Iggy Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:41 pm
===slow walk this process and possibly space out the effect of the progressive win===
He’s said over and over he wants a bill passed by the end of May. If he’s slow-walking, he’s been lying.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 12:45 pm
I call this early administration period the “new car dashboard effect”. You get a new car, and you spend some days or weeks fumbling around, trying to drive and watch the road while learning the climate and radio controls that are different from before.
Agencies and departments are holding their breath and waiting for their new instructions. The people JB’s put in place are still finding their footing and assimilating into the job. But at some point, you gotta turn the key and hit the pedal and move out.
If he’s hands-off “big picture” guy, or a micro-manager, I don’t particularly care; as long as he makes it clear which it is, and gets those people moving, as there is a lot of work to do.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:00 pm
Maybe I am beaten down but last several administrations but good grief the guy just got in and doesn’t walk him n water. Give him time although he can’t squander opportunity
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:03 pm
“Responsa” thanks….. this guy will be worse the Rauner because he knows nothing about how the place works….Rauner know he just wanted to gum up the works and create problems and disruption.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:03 pm
That one is all on Trey.
He’s their legislative guy and their diversity guy…maybe it’s just too much for one person.
Comment by Wheelwatcher Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:05 pm
==bill passed by the end of May==
Rich, I agree. But his legislative staff doesn’t seem capable of carrying any water on this issue at the moment. If he lets Cassidy and crew pass their version of the bill without GO input, the bill will get to his desk and he will be forced to either sign a bill that doesn’t include his desires or issue an AV. I don’t think any of us know enough about JB to say what he would do in that situation. Would hate to see this process get derailed because Staff is afraid to stand up to their boss and tell him his involvement is needed now in March, not 2 weeks before the end of session.
Comment by Iggy Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:07 pm
How does the LG Stratton fit into all of this? I’ve heard her talk about her equity initiative and she’s touted she would have a role in all this.
Pritzker should be giving her the lead on marjuana. Have Pritzker work on the fair tax and seeing budget through. Stratton knows how to make policy happen.
Comment by More Office Space Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:07 pm
===tell him his involvement is needed now===
The extent of the need is basically an outline of principles. After that, he’s needed to tell the various interest groups to shut up or they’ll get even less.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:08 pm
–Give him time although he can’t squander opportunity–
Selecting an administrative point person — by March — to engage with GA allies on legislation that was a centerpiece of your campaign — not a heavy lift.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:09 pm
Locking adults up for marijuana is bad, locking kids up for paintball guns is good.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:16 pm
It is still unclear about marijuana and driving with no clear definitions. I don’t want people to get a DUI when they are not DUI. At the same time, I don’t want people smoking too much and then falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into other people head-on. How much is too much?
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:23 pm
– For example, I’m very focused on making sure that communities of color, which have been most burdened by the war on drugs, have the ability to get licenses. –
That doesn’t need to be hard at all if it’s really about reform and freedom and fairness and not about cash. Make licenses that are affordable to people in communities of color (and everywhere else). Next?
People get many other kinds of affordable business licenses in communities of color; Restaurants, liquor sales, tattoo shops, gas stations. But justifying a 100k price tag presents a challenge for both sides.
It does feel like the Steans Bill is being setup to fail or at least change significantly from last session, in a rush. Ammons HB0902 is on the books now, it’s simple, and moves the ball to a place the majority of IL residents want, yet it’s ignored. Tick tock.
Comment by XonXoff Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:40 pm
Some moments stand the test of time. Wordslinger’s comment is one of those moments. Savage.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:50 pm
=== How does the LG Stratton fit into all of this? ===
She doesn’t. Let’s not throw her under the bus too.
This is all on Trey, and the governor’s comments are on his comms team.
Comment by Wheelwatcher Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:55 pm
I know we just had golden horseshoe awards, but can we pre-emptively award it to wordslinger?
BPIA stings because it’s true. All these staffers are making a ton of dough, but seem to be producing nothing. Get going people. We’re almost 3 months in. The honeymoon is over, time to govern.
Comment by curtis Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 1:59 pm
===We’re almost 3 months in===
Not quite 2 months. But 4 since the election.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 2:00 pm
===Selecting an administrative point person — by March — to engage with GA allies on legislation that was a centerpiece of your campaign — not a heavy lift.===
I agree, so what’s up with that?
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 2:16 pm
no doubt this is being delayed as long as possible, the questions is why. It may be so that its able to pass quickly without to much back and forth, so we as Illinoisans don’t have fighting chance in correcting any of the last minute moves they intend on making or to keep the politicians from doing the same to the bill they create. wouldn’t it be so typical of Illinois politics to create a monopoly by allowing only certain growers and no homegrow. Don’t worry the state will take care of you
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 3:18 pm
I would argue that we should be legalizing cannabis because its the right thing to do not because it helps or harms communities of color.
I feel like that whole argument is flawed from so many angles. Some of it culturally, some of it systemically and most of it perpetually self serving. Everyone needs to clean up there act.
The state needs to stop utilizing the plight of poor communities to push your state level agenda, legalize because it the right thing to do. Legalize because everyone suffers from prohibition. I don’t see why black or brown comminutes should be able to access it any differently than any one else. Capitalism rewards hard work. We shouldn’t promote an easier path only for communities of color, isn’t this in itself segregating Caucasians, should I feel like I have less of chance in opening a cannabis business because I’m Caucasian. I have no doubt racial disparity exits however, discretion is key as with anything, is it surprise that cultures that promote drugs, guns, etc would be target just in general?
We are all human beings. Lets get this going so I can grow my own and let the rest of the world worry about itself. Such a mess.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 3:49 pm
– by the end of May –
He didn’t say which May.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 4:46 pm
Pritzker needs to rein in the egos and campaign minded staffers pronto.
Get to work. People forgive mistakes, they do not forgive inaction.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 4:47 pm
===should I feel like I have less of chance in opening a cannabis business because I’m Caucasian===
If you have never been pulled over for “driving while black” then yes you may not understand that you already have an advantage in opening a cannabis business.
=== Everyone needs to clean up there act.===
Pick a name and stop throwing stones from your grammatically incorrect glass house.
Comment by Kentucky Bluegrass x Featherbed Bent x Northern California Sinsemilla Tuesday, Mar 5, 19 @ 5:01 pm
Law enforcement can use medical marijuana driving records to see if there is a spike in accidents
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 2:00 am
Medical recipients should be allowed home delivery. Lift the law enforcement restrictions the cardholder has to travel
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 2:41 am
47 years later the war on drugs boils down to impaired driving that can’t be proved is the reason we can’t stop
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 6:51 am
Arrest the protestors that “protect and serve” the cartels
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 7:00 am
Urban legend cops don’t make laws disproven
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 8:07 am