St. Louis Public Radio
Illinois took in nearly $200 million in tax revenue from the first year of legal marijuana sales. The state s legalization law requires 25% of that money go to communities disproportionally harmed by the failed war on drugs.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the
Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
Illinois generated more than $175 million in tax revenue from
recreational marijuana sales in 2020, and a chunk of that money will go to communities hit hardest by gun violence and disproportionate prosecution for low-level pot crimes.
The state announced $31.5 million in a first wave of grants for 80 nonprofit organizations and government bodies earlier this year as part of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew, or R3, Program. The program was built into Illinois’ recreational marijuana law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2019.
Lawmakers approve criminal justice reform bill
‘This bill cannot become law,’ say Madison County police
Ron DeBrock, ronald.debrock@thetelegraph.com
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Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is swarmed after the criminal justice reform bill passes the Illinois House during the lame-duck session for the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday morning at the Bank of Springfield Center. Show MoreShow Less
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SPRINGFIELD A criminal justice reform bill opposed by Madison County law enforcement officials was approved Wednesday by the Illinois House of Representatives.
Just before noon, the House voted 60-50 to approve House Bill 3563, formerly known as House Bill 163. The passage came about seven hours after the Illinois Senate, at around 4 a.m. Wednesday, approved the bill 32-23.