A discussion on cannabis, which will soon be legal to use and sell in measured doses in Illinois, brought together a roomful of legislators, lawyers, law enforcement officials, community members and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) directors and staff members on Thursday, Sept. 12 at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.
“We’re here to let you know what’s coming in 2020 about House Bill 1438, which regards the use of cannabis in the state of Illinois, and to address any of your concerns,” said Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis).
Greenwood and Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), both of whom voted for HB 1438, led the discussion, which was hosted by Dr. Dobbie Herrion, director of the Lewis & Clark Community College East St. Louis Center. Other panel members included Jeffrey Collier, organizer and union representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 881; and Lloyd M. Cueto, of Law Office of Lloyd M. Cueto.
Gov. J.B. Pritzer signed into law HB 1438 on June 25 to end cannabis prohibition, replace it with a system to tax, and regulate cannabis for those 21 years old and over. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Kelly Cassidy, is comprehensive in its approach. It becomes effective Jan. 1, 2020.
In addition to legalizing possession and use for adults, it expands the current medical cannabis licensing system, includes automatic expungement for cannabis offenses, and adds the ability for medical patients to grow cannabis at home, and offers significant benefits to communities hit hardest by inequities that were part of the war on cannabis.
“I’m here to find out how this new law will impact our students,” said ESLC Upward Bound Program Director Keith J. Ware, EdD. “I want to make sure that our staff has the appropriate information and knows where to get additional data needed to operate our program and care for our students properly as it relates to this new law.”
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Director Gina Jeffries, EdD, echoed Ware’s reasons for attending the session.
“We want the best for our students,” said Jeffries.
After laying out some of the “do’s” of the cannabis bill, Belt mentioned some of the “don’ts”
- You can’t consume on school grounds
- You can’t use in close proximity to people under the age of 21
- You can’t sell to minors under the age of 21
- You can’t do home delivery
- You can’t drive under the influence
Drawing the most applause from the audience were remarks from Belt regarding how the new law offers significant benefits to communities hit hardest by inequities that were part of the war on cannabis.
“House Bill 1438 will usher in one of the most sweeping criminal justice reforms in the cannabis movement. Approximately 770,000 cannabis-related criminal records will be expunged with this bill,” said Belt.
Photos:
Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) (left) and Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) give an overview of the HB 1438 cannabis bill during a “Cannabis in the Community” discussion at the East St. Louis Higher Education Center.
Jeffrey Collier, organizer and union representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 881, was a guest panelist at the discussion.