CHICAGO, Ill (WAND)- Should Illinois legalize marijuana? That was the topic of discussion at joint House and Senate committee Tuesday.
The committee lasted around four hours and featured many speakers for and against legalizing marijuana in Illinois. One of the people testifying in support of the measure was television host Rick Steves. Steves is a strong supporter of recreational marijuana and travels to states to speak in support of legalization.
"I'm not pro-drugs--I'm pro-civil liberties and anti-prohibition. Marijuana is here to stay. We can either keep building more prisons or figure out a better solution. I think it's obvious what the solution is, and it's happening around the country as it did in my home state of Washington. We need to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults." he said.
Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) have proposed a measure that would allow adults 21 years or older to purchase up to 28 grams of marijuana. They estimate the state could see between $350 to $700 million in tax revenue. The sponsors say that by having the state regulate the sale of the substance, it takes out the black market.
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