SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents 21 and older could soon be able to purchase and possess cannabis legally under legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) voted in support of the legislation that creates an automatic expungement process, a Social Equity Program, revenue allocation and a vocational training pilot program.

“This legislation takes the necessary steps to begin undoing years of injustice to the black community,” Jones said. “Minorities who have been disproportionately arrested and convicted for cannabis possession will have the ability to not only seek justice but also enter into the growing industry.”

Minor cannabis offenses under 30 grams would be automatically expunged under the proposal, and a pardoning process would be put in place to address other nonviolent offenses. Those convicted of Class 4 or Class A misdemeanor offenses would be able to petition to expunge their offenses.

The Social Equity Program would help ensure the involvement of minority communities in the industry by providing access to grants and loans that help cover some up-front costs of participating in the cannabis industry.

Tax revenue would be allocated for a variety of programs including public education and safety campaigns, law enforcement funds, substance abuse programs and mental health services.

House Bill 1438 also establishes the Recover, Reinvest and Renew program to provide support for communities disproportionately affected by unfair criminal justice practices.

Community colleges would also play a role by working with the Department of Agriculture to create eight programs across the state that teach students how to grow cannabis.

The legislation will now head to the House on concurrence.

CHICAGO – The Village of Riverdale is a recipient of a $250,000 community stabilization grant, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) announced today.

“Foreclosed homes present a real problem in the Village of Riverdale,” Jones said. “The immediate neighbors to these properties face a decrease in property value and the odds of vandalism increases. The community will benefit greatly from a grant to revitalize its neighborhoods.” 

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Board of Directors awarded a total of $8.1 million to 62 municipalities, counties and land banks across Illinois to help community revitalization by eliminating blighted and abandoned properties.

Illinois has over 515,000 properties that are foreclosed, blighted, and abandoned. This has become burdensome to local government since many lack the funds to restore those homes.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago)  joined lawmakers representing districts with large numbers of minorities in urging state leaders to take into account minority business goals when discussing sports betting and gaming legislation.

In a letter sent to Gov. JB Pritzker, Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Mike Madigan, and legislative leaders, Jones said the gaming industry needs to provide all Illinoisans a seat at the table and not just organizations who are currently in the industry.

“For years now, the Illinois Gaming Board has been strongly urging and requiring the gaming industry to do better in seeing to it that there is diversity at all levels of operation,” Jones said in the letter. “There has been little progress in that respect.”

Always an advocate for greater participation by minorities in industries, Jones recently sponsored a measure that would increase access to apprenticeship programs in the construction industry for African Americans.

Lawmakers who signed the letter said sports betting and gaming legislation will not get their vote if there are not revisions to accommodate minority involvement.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Emil Jones III is the sponsor of a measure that would increase access to apprenticeship programs in the construction industry for African-Americans.

Jones’s legislation creates the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs within the Illinois Department of Labor and creates an advisory board of 12 legislators (three from each caucus, appointed by the caucus leader). The goal of the commission is to increase minority participation in apprenticeship programs.

“Like in many other areas of society, minorities are underrepresented in apprenticeship programs,” Jones (D-Chicago) said. “Apprenticeships often provide a spring broad to good jobs, and we must ensure everyone has equal access to those opportunities.”

Illinois’ workforce stands at about 6 million, and there are about 16,000 active apprenticeships in the 13 basic crafts in the state's 102 counties.

The Senate approved Senate Bill 534. The bill moves to the House for consideration.