Into my 30's and Beyond.

Illinois Becomes 21st State To Decriminalize Marijuana

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WeedBlog) — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law Friday that removes criminal penalties for possession of a personal amount of marijuana and replaces them with a civil fine. The new law is effective immediately.

SB 2228, introduced by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), makes possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana a civil violation punishable by a fine of $100-$200. With its enactment, adults no longer face time in jail, and the civil offense will be automatically expunged in order to prevent a permanent criminal record. The new law largely mirrors legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who also sponsored this year’s bill, and reflects amendments Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed when he vetoed a similar bill last year.

Previously in Illinois, possession of up to 2.5 grams of marijuana was a class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,500; possession of 2.5-10 grams was a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,500. More than 100 Illinois communities had already removed local criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession.