Contributor: KC Scannell
Living in a state where recreational and medicinal marijuana is already legalized, I am fully aware of how lucky I am. It is a very strange, layered feeling of “luck” if I can be completely honest. Yes, I am beyond happy that the government has allowed me to partake in cannabis without any sort of legal ramifications, but the use of marijuana seems like it should just be an inherent human right. Especially given the fact that numerous studies have proven just how beneficial cannabis can be. Sadly, there are still some areas of this nation that frown upon and judge others for utilizing this amazing, truly harmless plant.
However, on the lighter side of things, in a more optimistic “glass half full” type of mentality, we can start to focus on (and praise) places that have finally come around on the topic of marijuana legalization. One of the more recent places to do so is Illinois. With legalization coming into play, finally, in 2020, the state has begun to take the initial steps to ready themselves for this monumental change.
With proper legalization, there needs to be legitimate and licensed dispensaries located throughout the state – not just in heavily populated areas. It appears as though the powers that be in Illinois are more than aware of this fact. They have even gone so far as to attempt to lessen the damage done by the war on drugs with some strategically placed dispensaries going forward.
There are over 2 million people who currently reside in areas that have been hit hardest by the war on drugs in this state. In an attempt to help out those who live in these regions, folks who apply for one of the 75 available licenses to run a dispensary, will receive 50 bonus points on their application – simply for living where they live. To more accurately put that into perspective, the maximum score that an application can get is 250 – so this is already a large chunk of “positive vibes” being dished out to those who need it most.
January will be the start of marijuana sales on a recreational level throughout the state. At this moment, the ruling powers have already granted permission to a handful of legitimate, vetted companies to grow and sell cannabis in certain areas. But there’s a plethora of local entrepreneurs who are doing all they can to secure themselves one of the remaining 75 licenses that are still available.
Officials released a map that showed the areas that are most affected by the ongoing war on drugs. When it became public, many people were surprised by how large the map actually was. That, strangely, is a positive thing. It means that even more people will be viable to receive those valuable bonus points with their applications. With this industry being as competitive as it is, any little bit of extra help is crucial.
In order to create this map that they are using to doll out these valuable points, officials based their information off arrest records. If a section of the state possessed an annual rate of 30 or more cannabis-related arrests (for every 10,000 residents) they qualified. Also, any specific area containing 10,000 residents who had 1 or more cannabis-related paroles qualified, as well. It wasn’t just based on a couple years of data. They made sure to calculate things properly, which is why they used near a decade’s worth of information before creating this all-too-important map.
There is another caveat however, that is worth noting. A region has to either maintain a 20%+ poverty rate. As well as needing over 20% of homes getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (aka “food stamps) in the area. Another aspect that was calculated during the creation of this map was the average unemployment rate. If an area, over the last 2 years, was sporting an unemployment rate of at least 20% higher than the national average, they were considered on the map.
One of the many researchers, Michael Negron, was reached for comment on the licensing map. In regards to the various information they took into account, he stated, “The data is intended to be objective while still keeping in mind where we think the impact of the war on drugs is. That means the data really sets the map.”
This level of insight is tremendous. Not only will the legalization of recreational cannabis help the citizens of Illinois live better lives, but it will ultimately help lessen the effect that the war on drugs is having on certain problematic areas of the state.
The folks behind legalization in Illinois could have thought with their pocketbooks, instead of their hearts in this regard. They could have easily only allowed high-traffic, high-income areas to have dispensaries. But they knew that wouldn’t be the right way to go about it. Which is why they took so much time and effort in creating this incredibly helpful map and bonus point system for their 75 license openings. I can’t help but applaud them for that.
The number of people who are wrongfully imprisoned for marijuana related charges is appalling. More than that, it’s depressing. There is no reason these harmless citizens should be imprisoned for medicine. It will never make sense to lock up a person who is merely trying to calm their worries and cure their ailments. That is just cruel and abundantly unusual punishment for someone who is simply in possession of cannabis.
States like Illinois embracing legalization is a massive victory for the cannabis community, and for the nation, as a whole. Middle America has usually been standing in the way of such legislation. But with more and more people, including the government, starting to realize just how amazing (and beneficial) cannabis is, the old-fashioned, unjust stigma against marijuana is beginning to fade away.
This is a great step in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean everything is going to go smoothly from the jump. There is going to need to be a lot of regulations in Illinois to avoid any sort of criminal activity in the industry. But, if they learn from their counterparts (other states like Nevada and California), they will be able to make sure that everything is above board.
What I am most eager to see is how these specific licenses will help out these poverty-stricken neighborhoods. The abundance of jobs, profits, and opportunities that will now spring up in these less-than-desirable areas are guaranteed to help improve the lives of everyone who resides there.
The fact that the people in charge of licensing in Illinois were so mindful to better their state through marijuana legalization is beyond admirable – it is near heroic. I genuinely hope that other states can see Illinois as an example of how to do things the right way. Not only are they finally going to allow their citizens the right to marijuana, but they will be able to lessen crime and improve the lives of their residents with one political move. It really is phenomenal to see such a positive outcome from local legislators like this. I’m wishing nothing but the best for the folks over in Illinois. I am sure they are all just watching the calendar, eagerly awaiting for January 1, 2020 to finally arrive. I mean, I know that’s what I’d be doing – no doubt about it.
