
A key component of a bill that would legalize possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use in Illinois—erasing cannabis-related convictions for potentially hundreds of thousands of people—may violate the state Constitution, according to the group representing county prosecutors statewide.
The bill essentially would create legislative pardons, which are illegal, said Robert Berlin, president of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association.
Under the Illinois Constitution, only the governor can issue pardons, Berlin, the DuPage County state’s attorney, told The State Journal-Register.