Illinois state legislators lay out plans for recreational marijuana proposal

Marijuana “bars” would be prohibited, and teenagers caught driving under the influence of marijuana would lose their licenses, a Springfield audience was told Monday night by lawmakers crafting a bill to allow recreational use of cannabis in Illinois.

Hearing those details pleased state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, whose town hall-style meeting on the issue attracted close to 100 people at Lincoln Library.

Manar said he hasn’t taken a stand on a potential bill but said he was glad to provide a forum in which citizens could ask questions about the concept of marijuana legalization for adults to two fellow legislators leading the debate in the Illinois General Assembly.

State Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, told the audience, “We have a huge opportunity in Illinois to do this right and carefully.”

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said she wants to use the legislation to make it harder for children and adolescents to use cannabis.

She said the legislation also would expunge the records of citizens whose careers and futures have been harmed by marijuana convictions for low-level possession and dealing. [Read more at The State Journal-Register]