SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP/WAND) — The governor of Illinois made the state the 11th in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana use by signing the bill Tuesday morning.

Gov. JB Pritzker scheduled a legislation-signing ceremony Tuesday morning in Chicago.

The law will allow residents to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce (30 grams) of usable marijuana at a time. Nonresidents can have 15 grams. Up to five privately home-grown plants would be allowed for personal use, but only for patients approved for the existing medical marijuana program.

Senator Toi Hutchinson said at the press conference the passing of this law is an important part of Illinois history. "It was the right thing to do... We ended a truly historic session with major accomplishments. It was an incredible session." She praised Gov. Pritzker for making those accomplishments happen.

Equity and justice were the buzzwords mentioned repeatedly during the press conference. Some officials talked about their communities that see large numbers of people jailed and prosecuted for marijuana usage.

Representative David Walter, a Republican, said his support of the legalization may surprise some, but he hopes it serves as a model to other states considering legalizing recreational marijuana.

"Cannabis arrests have disproportionately impacted minority communities," Rep. Walter said.

Convictions for marijuana crimes involving amounts under 30 grams are being expunged as part of this new law. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is negotiating a revised method of automatic expungement of low-level drug crime records with motions to vacate charges. According to a press release from State Sen. Heather Steans, state's attorneys or individuals will be able to petition a court to vacate a marijuana conviction involving 30-500 grams.

Pritzker's office says about 700,000 records are eligible for expungement, with 405,000 eligible for automatic expungement or possible clemency.

Communities negatively affected by past drug laws will be helped with the Recover, Reinvest and Renew Program (R3), which creates grants and assistance for those areas. Pritzker says 25 percent of revenue from cannabis sales will help R3 when it's transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund.

Gov. Pritzker said, "Signing this bill won't undo the injustices of the past. We can't turn the clock back, but we can turn the page."

After expungement and agency administrative needs are covered, revenue from marijuana-related taxes and licensing fees will go toward the following, in the words of Steans' release: 

  • 2% for public education and safety campaigns
  • 8% for law enforcement funds for prevention and training to be distributed through the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) formula
  • 25% for Recover, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program
  • 20% for programs that address preventative substance abuse programs and mental health services
  • 10% for the bill backlog
  • 35% or the remaining amount for the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF)

Ten states and the District of Columbia allow recreational use. Legislation to legalize it in New York and New Jersey this spring fizzled. Discussions in Pennsylvania never got off the ground.

Pritzker, a Democrat, campaigned on legalization.

Cannabis sales are still illegal in Illinois until the new law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

More information about changes the law will cover are available in a PDF attached to this story.