UPDATE: Pritzker Signs Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Recreational marijuana is all but a done deal in Illinois. Late last month, Illinois became the first state in the nation to approve such a measure via a legislative body, rather than a referendum.

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But on Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to make it final.

Multiple sources tell WTTW News that the governor, who campaigned on legalizing recreational adult use cannabis, is scheduled to sign that law June 25.

Legal weed is still about six months away, as the law won’t actually take effect until Jan. 1, 2020.

By then, the 55 operational dispensaries that cater to medical marijuana patients (state law authorizes 60 medical marijuana dispensary licenses) should be ready to open their doors to a wider customer base.

Until now, Illinois’ strict rules prevented members of the public, including the media, from going past reception areas in those dispensaries.

But WTTW cameras were briefly permitted to tour one of them on Thursday: FloraMedex in Elmwood Park.

Follow Amanda Vinicky on Twitter: @AmandaVinicky

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