Governor Pritzker Pardons 11,000 Illinois Inmates Guilty Of Marijuana Related Charges The Day Before Weed Is Officially Legal

CHICAGO (WLS) — With Illinois poised to legalize recreational marijuana in 2020, Governor JB Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for individuals with low-level cannabis convictions.

Governor Pritzker’s office says the misdemeanor expungements involve people in 92 counties in Illinois.
“Tomorrow when adult-use cannabis becomes legal, pay attention to the fact that we are beginning to accomplish four very important things: We are ending the 50-year long war on cannabis. We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Every state that has legalized cannabis has seen high demand and long lines in its earliest weeks, and to be sure, our state will too. But unlike other states, in Illinois, we purposely built a system where the market has room to grow, so that entrepreneurs, including especially those from the communities devastated by the war on drugs, will have real opportunities in this industry.”

A Happy New Year indeed for the 11,000 people pardoned across 92 counties in Illinois. Starting the year off fresh and free and they’ll be able to do it with a joint in their hand without being harassed by police. Good on the Governor. These people can’t get their life back, but they can get it back on track. This is proper justice for a state legalizing tomorrow. Great news and proper justice.

If you have questions about legalization in Illinois, Eddie had a couple of guys on Dogwalk a couple weeks ago. Really good episode, in my opinion