Illinois state Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy plan to introduce new legislation which would fully legalize marijuana when the legislature reconvenes in January.

Steans and Cassidy both previously introduced legislation attempting to legalize recreational cannabis earlier this year, but both bills failed to pass.

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Steans feels that with the recent Democratic wins in both the legislature and the gubernatorial race, the legislative landscape is primed for the legalization of recreational marijuana.

“It is a more encouraging landscape, for sure,” Steans told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Particularly since [Gov.] Rauner had been pretty outspoken in opposing [legalization]. It definitely has shifted the environment and we think that it gives us a lot more momentum to get [a bill] passed in the General Assembly in short order.”

Heather Steans/ Source: Twitter

The pot-related political landscape in Illinois

Illinois will have a much more liberal Legislature convening in January than they have had in recent years, and Chicago’s Democrats are ready to give legalization another go.

One of the major opponents to legalization in Illinois was [Gov.] Bruce Rauner, who lost his reelection campaign to pro-pot Democrat J.B. Pritzker. Democrats won major victories in both houses of the General Assembly, and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan declared his support for now Gov.-elect Pritzker’s proposal to legalize marijuana for adult, recreational use.

A spokesman for Pritzker stated that “J.B. supports legalizing and taxing the recreational use of marijuana, and is confident we are ready to do this in a safe and economically beneficial way in Illinois. As governor, he is committed to working with leaders in the General Assembly, listening to experts and community leaders, and drawing lessons and best practices from other states to move this forward.”

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During his campaign, Pritzker promoted the potential economic benefits of legalizing pot, stating that it could create anywhere from $350 million up to $700 million in annual tax revenue. The Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University at Urbana-Champaign released a study in early November, supporting Pritzker’s fiscal estimates.

According to the study, the complete legalization of marijuana could create over 23,600 new jobs and $525 million in tax revenues.

Kelly Cassidy/ Source: Facebook

Tax recommendations and law enforcement

While Steans and Cassidy have yet to put pen to paper for the pot bill, speculation on what the bill will cover is already a hot topic discussion in Chicago.

“We’ve asked some economists to come in, study, give us recommendations on how to set the tax rate to sort of optimize revenue and keep people in the legal system,” Steans said.

The bill, according to Steans, will establish how tax money from legal cannabis purchases will go toward the state’s general revenue fund, public health services, public schools, and possibly “new tools” for law enforcement.

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A concern for the Illinois legislature in developing a legal marijuana program is ensuring that tax rates do not push potential pot purchasers back to the black market. Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Madigan said that Illinois would research how other states have taxed and distributed cannabis revenues.

“Then you’ll have to see what needs to be done to build majorities in the House and the Senate to see what needs to be done to get a bill passed,” Brown stated.

J.B. Pritzker/ Source: Chi Hack Night

The opposition

Regardless of pot’s current political popularity, Steans and Cassidy will have to cross party lines to obtain support for their proposal. Unfortunately, certain politicians and political interest groups are already voicing their opposition to the proposed legislation.

“I do not support the legalization of recreational marijuana,” House Minority Leader Jim Durkin stated earlier this year.

Additionally, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based nonprofit that is basically the polar opposite of MPP, is already launching an opposition campaign to legalization efforts in Illinois. SAM CEO Kevin Sabet co-founded the group with former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy and served as a drug policy adviser in three presidential administrations.

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“With our allies, we have and will continue to target districts where lawmakers are on the fence on commercialization, and we are continuing to put pressure on Springfield and target legislators on the fence,” Sabet said. “We are also planning media campaigns and awareness activities.”

SAM also launched the Healthy and Productive Illinois project, an anti-legalization coalition which boasts such members as the Illinois Association of Housing Authorities, the Midwest Truckers Association, the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association, and the Illinois Drug Enforcement Association.

“[These organizations] have spearheaded efforts to reach into every city, every town, and every neighborhood in the attempt to slow down the thoughtless rush to legalization,” Sabet stated.

Regardless of the opposition, it looks like the prairie state will be the next stage for a political-pot showdown.