State’s Attorney’s Office Preparing for Changes from Marijuana Legalization

A bill that legalized marijuana in Illinois was recently signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Washington County State’s Attorney Dan Bronke says his office will have issues to consider over the next six months.

The bill signed last week allows for recreational possession and sales of marijuana for adults 21 and older. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2020 and makes Illinois the 11th state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana use.

“My understanding is that it will be legal for adults residents of Illinois to posses up to 30 grams of marijuana,” Bronke said. “Beyond that, we really don’t know much yet how everything else is going to go.”

Bronke says that counties will have the autonomy to regulate sales of marijuana, but not possession. “It will be up to the counties to determine if they want to allow for dispensaries,” he said. “That’s is something the county board will have to consider in the coming months.”

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