legalization of marijuana in Illinois
In case if you have missed out, General Assembly of Illinois has approved a law to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana. So, if you are concerned with marijuana, then this can be a better opportunity for you to be in this budding industry.
Medical use of Marijuana in Illinois
Marijuana’s medical use was legalized about six years ago on January 1, 2014. This law allowed all the registered patients to get 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana from dispensaries the patients are going to specify during their application process every two weeks.
Illinois has legalized recreational marijuana
Law makers and Governor J.B. Pritzker were looking for ways to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois. With the midnight stroke on January 1, 2020, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois officially. Illinois is now one of the only 11 states of the United States which have legalized recreational use of marijuana. This legalization became successful due to a push served by the campaign of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Now Illinois lets the stores sell recreational marijuana. However, licensed stores can sell this only. As per Chicago Tribune, there are 37 marijuana stores where you can buy marijuana for recreational purposes.
Legalization of marijuana in Chicago
Although existing marijuana dispensaries are preparing to sell adult use of marijuana, some municipalities have prohibited pot businesses, while some municipalities, including Chicago, have set some restrictions for this.
City council and Mayor in Chicago, have prohibited sales of marijuana in downtown and divided rest of the areas in 7 different zones with the maximum numbers of store which can sell recreational marijuana in each zone.
Marijuana zoning rule of Chicago also requires someone who is seeking to run a marijuana business in the areas of Chicago, reserved for a storefront to get a zoning change and a city permit. This would need approval from city council as well as give alderman recreational pot shops more oversight.
Rules for marijuana in Illinois
Although Illinois has legalized the use of marijuana, but there are some rules to follow for this. Here we are stating these essential rules to ensure you are doing this as per law:
- You can buy and use marijuana in Illinois, only if you are 21 or above. Otherwise, you are not allowed to buy or possess marijuana at all.
- All the marijuana which is sold in the dispensaries all across Illinois will be grown within the borders of state. This must be from one of the licensed cultivation centers of the state.
- Do you want to grow marijuana on your own? Well, this option is available for registered medical marijuana only. While the limit for this is 5 per house only.
- In case of supply is going to be short for marijuana in Illinois, then the patients of medical marijuana will get first dibs on marijuana.
- You are not allowed to vape, smoke or consume marijuana at any public spot. This includes bars and restaurants too.
Work place rights in Illinois
The Workplace Rights Bureau is protecting and advancing employment rights for all the residents of Illinois, especially for most vulnerable state residents and immigrants. The bureau will investigate and litigate any case that is involving the violation of wage law according to which minimum wage pay in Illinois is $9.25 per hour or other significant employment practices.
If you need any further help in Chicago regards your workplace rights, then you can easily visit here. Make sure to know your employment laws to see what your rights are as an employee. This will undoubtedly help you to get help if you are being treated differently at the workplace.
Click to access 19996-Adult_Use_Cannabis_Legislation.pdf
By Whorehay Navarro
THE CHICAGO PLUG 