Illinois is in love with MJ! The state of Illinois welcomed the new year by legalizing the use of recreational marijuana or MJ or cannabis on its grounds. This week, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation to legalize the use and sale of the weed.
Now, Illinois residents who are 21 and older are legally allowed to have up to 30 grams of cannabis. Under the law, “outsiders” or people who are not originally residing in Illinois can have up to 15 grams of cannabis.
The law also allows those enrolled in Illinois’ medical cannabis program to plant up to five marijuana plants. Non-residents who grow their marijuana plant or cannabis will be fined no more than $200.
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MJ in other states
For more than a decade, the fight to legalize the use of MJ for recreational purposes has been a constant cause of debate among lawmakers. Currently, there are 33 states whose lawmakers have developed legislation that pursues the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Eleven of these states now have legalized cannabis use. The states are Illinois, Washington, Alaska, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusets, Michigan, Nevada, and Oregon.
Pacific Island states and territories Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands have also legalized the use of Cannabis. Guam citizens allowed the use of medical marijuana by casting majority vote during 2014 ballot elections. Like Illinois, MJ is a recreational weed in the Northern Mariana Islands after its Governor Ralph Torres signed the bill into law in 2018.
Expunging “MJ-Convicted- Criminals”
Illinois’ new approved law contains what will be a historic move in America’s justice system. The law allows expunging the records of potentially hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents who have previously been convicted for possessing weed under previous legislation. Media sources such as ABC News has predicted that about 770,000 residents may be qualified for the said expunging.
This move will make Illinois the first state, which will have an aggressive stance on freeing “marijuana convicts”.
Cannabis for pain
Despite the controversy surrounding this plant, cannabis’s main medical function is for pain control. According to Harvard Health Blog, cannabis is quite effective in controlling pain, especially those felt by the body due to aging.
The blog said it could also take the place of pain-relievers such as Advil or Aleve. It added that it is helpful to those who cannot take pain relievers due to other health conditions such as stomach acidity.
According to the blog, cannabis can be used to control pain associated with multiple sclerosis and nerve pain.
Patients also claim that marijuana allows them to go about their previous activities without feeling completely out of it and disengaged.
Another use of cannabis is as a muscle relaxant. It is advised that people with Parkinson’s Disease who use cannabis “swears” by its ability to lessen tremors.
MJ is also used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans who are returning from combat zones.
Other conditions it is helpful for include management of nausea, weight loss, a possible treatment for glaucoma, and relief for irritable bowel syndrome.
