Illinois Marijuana Legalization Advisory Question (2018)
| Illinois Marijuana Legalization Advisory Question | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 6, 2018 | |
| Topic Marijuana | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Advisory question | |
The Illinois Marijuana Legalization Advisory Question did not qualify to appear on the Illinois 2018 ballot measures in Illinois as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018.
The non-binding measure would have advised state officials on whether to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for persons 21 years old or older and whether to tax and regulate marijuana similarly to how the state taxes and regulates tobacco and alcohol.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title would have been as follows:[1]
| “ | Do you support the legalization of possession and use of marijuana by persons who are at least 21 years of age, subject to regulation and taxation that is similar to the regulation and taxation of tobacco and alcohol?[2] | ” |
Support
Supporters
Officials
The following officials sponsored the measure in the state legislature:[3]
- Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18)
- Sen. Laura Murphy (D-28)
- Sen. Daniel Biss (D-9)
- Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40)
- Sen. Patricia Van Pelt (D-5)
- Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-35)
Arguments
- Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18), a legislative sponsor of the question, said, "I think it well advised for us as members of the Illinois General Assembly, before we possibly take a vote on this issue, to find out what our voters think."[4]
Opposition
Arguments
- Sen. Chris Nybo (R-24), who voted against referring the question in the state Senate, stated, "I just think that given what the state of Illinois is facing there are so many other important issues we should be putting before our citizens."[4]
Background
Question in Cook County, Illinois (2018)
On March 20, 2018, voters in Cook County, Illinois, voted on a non-binding countywide Marijuana Legalization Advisory Question. Voters approved the question, with more than two-thirds voting "yes" on the non-binding measure.[5] The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted 17-0 to place the advisory question on the ballot for the gubernatorial primary election.[6] The measure asked: "Shall the State of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?"
Path to the ballot
In Illinois, legislation for an advisory question must be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Illinois State Legislature during one legislative session.
Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18) filed a bill, titled Senate Bill 2275 (SB 2275), for the question on January 10, 2018. The Illinois Executive Committee approved the bill 11 to 4, sending SB 2275 to the floor of the state Senate. On March 1, 2018, the state Senate voted 37 to 13 with nine members not voting to approve the bill. Senate Democrats and about a quarter of Senate Republicans supported SB 2275.[3]
The Illinois House of Representatives did not vote on the proposal before the 2018 legislative session adjourned on May 31, 2018.
| Vote in the Illinois State Senate | |||
| Requirement: Simple majority vote of all members in each chamber | |||
Number of yes votes required: 30  | |||
| Yes | No | Not voting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 37 | 13 | 9 |
| Total percent | 62.71% | 22.03% | 15.25% |
| Democrat | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| Republican | 6 | 13 | 3 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Illinois State Legislature, "Senate Bill 2275," accessed March 2, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Illinois State Legislature, "SB 2275 Overview," accessed March 2, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chicago Tribune, "Legal marijuana question a step closer to being on November ballots in Illinois," March 1, 2018
- ↑ NBC Chicago, "Cook County Voters Give Firm Answer on Legalizing Recreational Marijuana," March 20, 2018
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Cook County voters to be asked next year about legalizing marijuana," December 17, 2017
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