98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5411

 

Introduced , by Rep. Robyn Gabel

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Cannabis Study Act. Provides that before considering the regulation and taxing of cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco for individuals 21 years of age or older, the General Assembly shall direct the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council to: (1) determine the effect regulation and taxation would have on law enforcement resources; (2) determine the impact regulation would have on the rate of arrests, predisposition detention, and sentencing; (3) review approaches a cannabis regulation law could take regarding drug-free workplace policies and procedures and what effect the different approaches would have; (4) determine the effect regulation and taxation would have on existing criminal laws, including the Cannabis Control Act; (5) review approaches states have taken to reduce risks associated with the operation of motor vehicles by individuals impaired by intoxicants including but not limited to cannabis, and what effect the different approaches have had on rates of fatalities; (6) determine to what extent the taxation and regulation of cannabis may generate employment and revenue in Illinois if at all; (7) determine the regulatory and taxing system needed for the licensing of entities to sell cannabis and the licensing of entities to grow cannabis; (8) determine the product labeling, quality control, and taxing regulations needed; (9) compare the health effects of cannabis, alcohol, and prescription drugs on the individual and community as it relates to violence, risk-taking, addiction, cancer, overdose, and mortality; (10) determine the impact that existing laws on cannabis possession have on rates of crime and violence; and (11) any other relevant analysis regarding the impact on the public safety and welfare of the citizens of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall consider factors and work in conjunction with, and obtain input from, any individual, agency, association, and research institution deemed appropriate by the Council. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report to the General Assembly its findings on or before December 20, 2015.


LRB098 18955 RLC 54103 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5411LRB098 18955 RLC 54103 b

1    AN ACT concerning cannabis.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Cannabis Study Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings.
7    (a) Numerous localities throughout this State impose a
8civil fine for the possession of cannabis. The states of
9Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
10Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont
11impose civil fines, based on specified low gram quantities of
12cannabis. On August 29, 2013 the U.S. Department of Justice
13issued a "Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement" Memorandum
14for all United States Attorneys reaffirming that "the
15Department of Justice has not historically devoted resources
16for prosecuting individuals whose conduct is limited to
17possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use on
18private property".
19    (b) In 2012, a majority of voters in the states of Colorado
20and Washington legalized the possession of cannabis by any
21person 21 years of age or older, and tax and regulate cannabis
22in a manner similar to alcohol. Despite existing federal law
23prohibitions regarding the purchase and possession of

 

 

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1cannabis, on August 29, 2013, the U.S. Attorney General
2publicly stated that the Department of Justice would allow
3Washington and Colorado to create a system that would regulate
4and implement legalization of the use of cannabis for adults.
5    (c) Numerous polls, including a 2013 Pew Research Center
6poll found that a majority of Americans favor legalizing the
7use of cannabis, with an 11 point rise since 2010.
8    (d) During the 42 years since the enactment of the Cannabis
9Control Act, attitudes in this State regarding the use of
10cannabis have changed; Public Act 98-122, the Compassionate Use
11of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, of the 98th General
12Assembly, authorized physicians to prescribe cannabis for
13therapeutic use in patients suffering from certain types of
14medical conditions.
15    (e) It is appropriate for this State to consider the
16regulation and taxing of cannabis, in a manner similar to
17alcohol and tobacco, for individuals 21 years of age or older.
18    (f) If the General Assembly wishes to consider regulating
19and taxing cannabis, in a manner similar to alcohol or tobacco,
20for individuals 21 years of age or older, that decision should
21be based upon facts which establish that the regulation and
22taxation of cannabis is in the best interest of the people of
23the State of Illinois.
 
24    Section 10. Regulation and taxation of cannabis in a manner
25similar to alcohol and tobacco for individuals over 21 years of

 

 

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1age or older.
2    (a) Before considering regulation and taxation of cannabis
3in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco for individuals over
421 years of age or older, the General Assembly shall direct the
5Sentencing Policy Advisory Council to:
6        (1) determine the effect regulation and taxation would
7    have on law enforcement resources;
8        (2) determine the impact regulation would have on the
9    rate of arrests, predisposition detention, and sentencing;
10        (3) review approaches a cannabis regulation law could
11    take regarding drug-free workplace policies and procedures
12    and what effect the different approaches would have;
13        (4) determine the effect regulation and taxation would
14    have on existing criminal laws, including the Cannabis
15    Control Act;
16        (5) review approaches states have taken to reduce risks
17    associated with the operation of motor vehicles by
18    individuals impaired by intoxicants including but not
19    limited to cannabis, and what effect the different
20    approaches have had on rates of fatalities;
21        (6) determine to what extent the taxation and
22    regulation of cannabis may generate employment and revenue
23    in this State if at all;
24        (7) determine the regulatory and taxing system needed
25    for the licensing of entities to sell cannabis and the
26    licensing of entities to grow cannabis;

 

 

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1        (8) determine the product labeling, quality control,
2    and taxing regulations needed;
3        (9) compare the health effects of cannabis, alcohol,
4    and prescription drugs on the individual and community as
5    it relates to violence, risk-taking, addiction, cancer,
6    overdose, and mortality;
7        (10) determine the impact that existing laws on
8    cannabis possession have on rates of crime and violence;
9    and
10        (11) any other relevant analysis regarding the impact
11    on the public safety and welfare of the citizens of this
12    State.
13    (b) The Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall
14report to the General Assembly its findings on or before
15December 20, 2015.
 
16    Section 15. Scope and partnership. The Illinois Sentencing
17Policy Advisory Council shall consider factors and work in
18conjunction with, and obtain input from, any individual,
19agency, association, and research institution, deemed
20appropriate by the Council.