HR0154LRB101 05503 SLF 50518 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 2016, the law changed and possession of up to 
310 grams of marijuana in Illinois became a civil matter rather 
4than a criminal one; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, This change did not address those who had already 
6been convicted of possession of small amounts of marijuana; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, To create stronger pathways to employment for all 
8citizens of the State, legislators need to examine the damage 
9over-criminalization has caused, specifically the 
10disproportionate effect on people of color; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, According to a 2013 report from the American Civil 
12Liberties Union, African-Americans in Illinois are more than 7 
13times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, To help nonviolent offenders rehabilitate and 
15have a better chance of getting a job, expunging low-level 
16convictions of marijuana possession allows people to tell 
17prospective employers that they have a clean criminal record; 
18and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, In addition to the financial benefit of more 
20citizens able to achieve full employment, eliminating the 
 
 
HR0154- 2 -LRB101 05503 SLF 50518 r

1prosecution of pending low level marijuana charges allows for 
2the reallocation of resources and with a focus on serious 
3cases, the safety and security of all residents is improved; 
4therefore, be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
7we urge every State's Attorney in this State to throw out all 
8pending low-level marijuana charges and review low-level 
9marijuana charges that resulted in conviction and 
10incarceration to help offer residents a path to employment and 
11in the process be able to utilize our resources for the  benefit 
12of the citizens of the State.