Weed Is Legal in Illinois… So Why Are Arrests Up?

If you thought legal weed meant fewer problems, that’s not the case, and certainly not for Illinois.

JB Pritzker made marijuana legal in Illinois in 2019. You’d think arrests would drop soon after. Well, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, they have actually gone up about 3.4%.

That essentially means, just about 15 people a day are still getting busted for weed in a state where it’s legal.

READ MORE: Big Changes Could Be Coming For Cannabis Regulations In Illinois

Marijuana Arrests Still Rising in Illinois

That might have something to do with the rules, as the “legal” part of marijuana is doing a ton of heavy lifting. Recreational users can’t grow it at home, and if you’re driving with it, it must be sealed, stored, and kept out of reach. If not, you could be looking at a class A misdemeanor, which could catch you a year of jail time and a $2500 fine.

What I’m trying to say is legal does not mean it’s a free-for-all, and if you’re really paying attention, it’s not even close.

READ MORE: Can You Smoke Marijuana As A Passenger In A Car In Illinois?

Why Legal Marijuana Doesn’t Mean Free-for-All

Some Illinois lawmakers have attempted to loosen up some of the laws, but so far, nothing has stuck.

It’s interesting because Illinois really led the way for other states to legalize marijuana, but if you miss some of the fine print, you could end up learning the hard way.