Whomever Illinois elects as governor in November 2018 may be in a position to make or break proposed legislation to legalize possession of limited amounts of pot and sow the seeds for a recreational marijuana industry in the state.
But money is just one of several potential benefits of legal pot. As the Reader reported in April, Chicago cops arrested thousands of people last year for possession of small amounts of weed, and nearly 80 percent of those apprehended were black. Legalizing possession and use of the drug could significantly mitigate stark racial disparity and inequity in the state’s criminal justice system.
“I’m hearing some pretty bad stories. Now, I haven’t studied it. I think we should do a thoughtful analysis of what’s happening in these other states. I’m hearing a lot of trouble,” Rauner told the radio show. “My friends in Colorado have told me some pretty terrible things about addiction problems and behavior problems, etc, over there in Denver.”
J.B. Pritzker Democrat, cofounder and managing partner of private investment and venture capital firm the Pritzker Group Favors legalization? Yes
Bob Daiber Democrat and regional superintendent of schools for Madison County Favors legalization? Yes
