Illinois House Floor Debate — May 31, 2019

"Members are asked to be at their seats. We shall be led in prayer today by Pastor Cory Musgrave who is with the New Beginnings Church in Fairfield. Pastor Cory Musgrave is the guest of Representative Bailey. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn of all cell phones, and rise for the Pledge of Allegiance."

"We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Butler."

"Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Welch."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Democratic side of the aisle has no excused absences today. Everyone is ready for duty."

"Representative Butler."

Speaker Turner: "With 118 Members present, a quorum is established. Members, on page 8 of the Calendar, under the Order of Concurrence, we have House Bill 1438, offered by Representative Cassidy. Chair recognizes Representative Wheeler."

"For one hour, Representative?"

"All right. Republicans will have an immediate caucus in Room 118. The House will stand at recess 'til the call of the Chair. Members, we're going to go back to page 8 of the Calendar. Under the Order of Concurrence, we have House 10100062.docx 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Bill 1438, offered by Representative Cassidy. Representative Cassidy."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members of the House. Today, I present House Bill 1438 which will create a legal market for adult-use cannabis in the State of Illinois. At its very core, this is before us today because decades of prohibition hasn’t stopped use. Prohibition hasn’t made us safer. Prohibition hasn’t built communities, in fact, it has destroyed them. Prohibition hasn’t created jobs, in fact, it has prevented people from finding work. Ending prohibition will allow us to bring this out of the shadows, impose reasonable and thoughtful regulation, and bring assurance of a tested and safer product. It will give us the opportunity to educate people on the potential risks and benefits. It will create jobs and opportunities for communities in need. It is time to hit the reset button on the war on drugs. What is before us is the first in the nation to approach this legislatively, deliberately, thoughtfully, with an eye towards repairing the harm of the war on drugs. We have an opportunity today to set the gold standard for a regulated market that centers equity and repair. At its core, the Bill will allow adults over 21 to purchase cannabis starting January 1, 2020. A possession limit for residents of Illinois of 30 grams, 15 grams for nonresidents. It will allow participants in the medical cannabis program to grow up to five cannabis plants in their home. It will allow municipalities to opt out and prohibit dispensaries and other cannabis businesses from operating in their communities. It allows employers to adopt reasonable zero-tolerance policies concerning consumption of cannabis. 10100062.docx 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 The Bill incorporates points for labor peace agreements and environmental practices in the scoring system for licensing purposes. Creates a new Community College Vocational Pilot Program to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to enter the industry and access the good paying jobs and career paths. The Bill requires all products to contain warning labels and establishes advertising restrictions to prohibit marketing to children and youth. It does not alter the state's medical program. The regulatory system created under the medical program is one that states all over the country travel to Illinois to learn about so that they can copy what we're doing. The Bill… the proposal deliberately restricts the distribution of new cannabis licenses in 2020 to allow for a measured and thoughtful roll out and growth of the industry with a hard pause so that the disparity study can evaluate the market and proactively address equity when new licenses open up. The Bill provides justice and relief for minor violations of the Cannabis Act. And the Bill provides for tax revenue and licensing fees that will bring much needed revenue into the state. I have said repeatedly, however, this is not about the money. It can't be about the money. States that have passed legalization and have gone about it as if it's a magic ATM machine have failed doubly. They have not cut into their illicit market place and they've gotten less revenue. It is critically important that we're mindful of this as we walk through this process and we have been. We have targeted our tax rates for this product in the low end of the average for the country. Over the last two and a half years, Senator Steans and I, along with Members in 10100062.docx 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 both chambers, from both parties, have held numerous town hall meetings, stakeholder meetings, working group meetings, public hearings, and the feedback from those meetings has brought us to this place where the Bill is before us today includes feedback from proponents and opponents. Everyone that has participated has been a part of making this better. Over the last couple of years we've heard concerns. We’ve made clear that your concerns about home grow have been heard. We've narrowed that back to patients only. We've ensured that the language for employers has been strengthened. We've revised the expungement process to remove concerns there. We've addressed concerns around DUI. We've addressed concerns about reinvestment in communities. We have brought in additional licensing categories to ensure access to the industry. And we've included language about financial institutions provided by Treasurer Frerichs. With that, I look forward to your questions."

"Members, we will institute a five minute timer for the discussion. We will begin with Leader Gordon-Booth, for five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. I have had the distinct privilege and honor of serving in this chamber for the last 10 years. And two and a half, three years ago, when this work began, one of the issues that stood out to me was what was happening around the country as it related to adult-use cannabis legalization. And what distinctively stood out to me was the fact that people like me, that look like me, were given no consideration when these industries were created. And so, I approached the Sponsor at that time from 10100062.docx 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 that very particular space. There are many actors that have shown up in this arena for many different reasons. But I approached the Sponsor as a black woman living in downstate Illinois who sees and understands the disparities that exist in communities across the state, particularly for people that looks like me. And I told the Sponsor that I wanted to engage her in this conversation to ensure that equity was central to this conversation. And I'm proud to stand here today to say that what we are bringing forth as a Body… because this is not the work of one particular person, but the work of countless individuals, that we had the ability as a Body, to bring forth what is the most socially just, the most socially equitable adult-use cannabis policy in the country. In the country. One of the things that many people often tout about the medical industry is that it is the gold standard as it relates to regulation. And that’s good, in a very important industry like this you need significant regulations. But one of the things that they don’t talk about is the diversity that exists in medical. And they don’t talk about it because it doesn’t exist. And the reason why it doesn’t exist is because this process, not putting language on a ballot and going to referendum… or excuse me, a ballot measure, but taking the painstaking time to say what are going to be our guiding principles for this policy. And if equity is the principle of this policy, equity has to be at the forefront of every single conversation as it relates to who participates in this industry, as it relates to taxation, as it relates to application processes, how should that look. All of that has been not only articulated but it has been stipulated in the 10100062.docx 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 language of this Bill. So, when looking at what many other states that have embarked upon adult-use legalization, many of the problems that we saw in terms of creating a policy that was equitable, some of the things that were missing were things such as having access to capital. A major hurdle for individuals wanting to get into this space. We've addressed that. With a $30 million grant and a revolving loan fund for Social Equity Applicants. As central to the application policy, Social Equity Applicants have a… are 20 percent of the core points of every application. That means that you can't leave social equity on the table. If you do, you won't be participating in adult-use cannabis in Illinois. It is the third highest ranked area within each application process, only behind security and business plan. When thinking about the devastation that has impacted so many of our communities across this state, particularly looking at disproportionately impacted areas, those of us that serve those communities would not be doing our jobs if we did not fight for community reinvestment. And because of the hard work of groups like Chicago NORML and Grow Greater Englewood, and our Chairwoman of Agriculture, Representative Sonya Harper, the Chairwoman of Higher Ed, Carrol Ammons, and all of the other Members that participated in the cannabis equity work group, we have been able to craft a policy that reinvests money in communities that have been divested in for the last 80 years. With specific and targeted resources to be able to reverse the harm of impact that has happened to our communities as a result of failed policies like a war on cannabis. In my time in this General Assembly, never ever have I seen a policy, 10100062.docx 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 words on a piece of paper, and seen myself in that paper. That hasn’t happened in 10 years because we have never, at the central point of any real conversation that we’ve had in Springfield say, you know what, we have… if we are going to do this, we must make central to this policy ensure that black and brown communities that have been divested in, that have been locked up, that have been castigated to the side, have to be central to this policy and that is what we have in this Bill."

"Excuse me, Representative. Your time has expired. Representative Mussman, do you wish to yield your time to Representative Gordon-Booth?"

"Yes, I do."

Speaker Harris: "Okay. Representative Gordon-Booth for an additional five minutes."

"Many of us… again, the work that we do, we don’t do it in a silo, we do it as a collective. Many of us have worked on expungement policies. Chairwoman Camille Lilly, Chairman La Shawn Ford, Leader Will Davis, Leader Art Turner, Chairman Chris Welch, we have all worked… and others, have all worked on expungement policies because we see the devastating effect of communities that have been calcified in poverty. They have no ability to get financial aid, no ability to get quality housing, no ability to become gainfully employed. And let me tell you, when you live in a community like mine, and the largest economic engine in that city decides that they're going to pick up and move, you know what the jobs are that are left in a community like that? You can work at the school district, you can work at the hospital, 10100062.docx 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 you can work at the county, or maybe a plethora of other small businesses. But you know what many… but you know what 70 percent of the industry in my community demands? It demands that you have a background check. So, if you are wearing the scarlet letter of a conviction, you are now calcified in poverty because of a mistake that… not even a mistake. Because of a choice that many people may not want to admit it, that they partake in too and have always partaked in. But the difference between black communities and other folks is that we're four times more likely to receive a conviction for it. So, I am proud of the Legislative Black Caucus standing in the gap for people who need to have their records cleared or people who need their communities to be reinvested in and for people that are saying, you know what, if we're going to create and industry, you can't do it for us, without us. And that’s what you see in this policy. I want to thank the Sponsor. I want to thank all of the Members of this Caucus, if I did not say your name, I am so sorry. But I want, not just those of us in this room to know, but the folks who may be paying attention to this conversation somewhere throughout this great state of 13 million people, but also in this country. Because what we are doing with this policy is we are setting the bar. We are letting the rest of this country know that if you set equity at the forefront of your policy, you cannot only have a good Bill, but you can have the best policy in the country as it relates to adult-use cannabis. Ladies and Gentlemen, we should all be proud of that. We should all be proud to say that we are creating an industry with intentionality around ensuring that people that have been 10100062.docx 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 castigated to the side, people who have been ignored, people who are oftentimes vilified and otherwise are now lifted up. Not just in theory, not just in rhetoric, but in policy. And I want to end on this 'cause I know I'm going over my time. But I want to let everybody know that the work does not end today. We are really just getting started. This is the first bite. And any of us who have been around here for any amount of time, and we know that we don't get everything that we want in the first bite. We get as much as we possibly can that's passable and we continue to work. I'm committed to continuing that work. The Sponsor is committed to continuing that work. And I know that the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the Latino Caucus and the Progressive Caucus and many of our allies in this building are committed to continuing this work. Without necessarily getting everything in one Bill, I am proud to stand here to say that not only are we putting the best possible policy on the table, but it's the best policy around adult-use cannabis in the country and there is no need to shrink from any of that. I ask for your 'aye' vote. I'm proud to stand here with all of you today. Let's get this done."

"Chair recognizes Representative Welter."

"The Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Yes."

"This particular Bill…"

"So, for the past six years, I have been working directly on cannabis reform within this chamber. Two and a half years ago, we introduced the first version of this Bill and spent that entire time engaged in stakeholder conversations to bring us to this point."

"I would venture to say that I have never worked on a piece of policy that I have done more public discussion of."

"Chair recognizes Representative Villanueva."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative, I have a couple of questions for you. What is the intent behind allowing individuals to petition the courts to vacate their cannabis convictions?"

"As the state legalizes the possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis, it is necessary that we undo the criminalization of that same conduct. Due to this change in the law, these prior convictions should not only be forgiven by a pardon, but the courts should recognize these convictions as no longer legally valid based on the substantive change in 10100062.docx 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 law and allow individuals to have their convictions vacated and expunged."

"Okay, but the Bill also contemplates vacating convictions for conduct that would still be unlawful moving forward. What is the purpose of vacating these convictions?"

"This Bill would allow, but not require, convictions for possession up to 500 grams and for manufacture delivery and possession with intent to deliver up to 30 grams to be vacated by individuals and state's attorneys. On a case by case basis, the courts may conclude that these convictions are no longer legally valid based on the substantive change in the law to legalize adult-use and vacate and expunge these convictions. The passage of this Bill is an opportunity for the State of Illinois to hit reset on enforcement of cannabis related offenses given the substantive change in law."

"And then one final question, because I noticed this as we had conversations about this. Was it your intent from the get-go to make sure that we had as much… as many stakeholders involved in the process?"

"Absolutely. As I've said, we stopped counting around 100 meetings, but the intention from the very beginning was to use the time available to us in the last administration to get as much feedback as we could, to hear from as many people as we could, regardless of their position on the issue, because we felt very strongly that that feedback, both positive and negative, would lead to a better policy for the State of Illinois."

"Thank you, Representative. To the Bill. I represent a district on the southwest side of the City of Chicago that 10100062.docx 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 encompasses Cook County Jail. And I had the privilege, and I say the privilege because I think it takes a lot to walk into a jail and get a tour and actually speak to inmates about their situations and their experiences that landed them there. And one of those instances in particular, especially in the women's sections of the jail and having some conversations with some of the female inmates of why they were there and how they ended up being there, really took me aback. One was because there was a large number, at least from the stories that I was told, a large number of women who were in jail because of drug convictions. And second, they did it because of their partners. I bring this up because I think it's important to know that what we're talking about and my interest in participating in having conversations around adult-use has been those experiences, my mother's own personal experience with cancer and not being able to get a medical cannabis card because the hospital that she is seeking treatment at is a Catholic hospital. And again, they are exempt, and that’s fine. But as my mother battles her own battle with cancer, her decision to not want to stick to opioids in order to help with the conditions and with the symptoms of the treatment, it would have been a little bit easier to get some relief had she have been able to get her medical cannabis card. And now, it's going to be a little bit easier for people like her to be able to actually seek some relief. I bring up these stories because I think there is going to be a lot of people that are going to talk about the morality of the issue, and I get it and I respect it and I understand, you know, people and their experiences. But I 10100062.docx 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 also implore you to listen out to the experiences of other people and what we're really talking about. It was a privilege to be sitting in these rooms having explicit conversations about the intentionality of this Bill and about the need for equity to be in the middle of everything. And when we're talking about communities that have been ravaged by the war on drugs like my community and the communities that surround it, I think it's important to remember that while we're talking about adult-use, we're also talking about the creation of a new industry that will bring in jobs, but we're also talking about giving people a second chance at life. I urge a 'yes' vote."

"Chair recognizes Representative Didech."

"Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Thank you. You know, something that I think is important, if we are going to legalize adult-use cannabis, is that our local governments have the tools and resources that they need to protect public health and public safety. So, I have some questions for legislative intent. In Section 55-25(2), it states that a unit of local government may both enact ordinances or rules governing the time, place, manner, and number of cannabis business establishment operations and establish civil penalties for violation of said ordinances or rules. In Section 55-25(3), it states that a unit of local government may regulate the on-premise consumption of cannabis at or in a cannabis business establishment within its jurisdiction in a manner consistent with this Act. Is the intent of this legislation to provide local governments 10100062.docx 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 regulatory authority, including requiring a special use permit for the operation of a cannabis establishment over cannabis establishments within their jurisdiction?"

"Yes, so long as the local regulations are not in conflict with the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and the local government does not unreasonably restrict the time, place, manner, and number of cannabis business establishment operations authorized by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act."

"Given that, will local government law enforcement officials have the ability to inspect cannabis business establishment operations to ensure compliance with all state and local laws, ordinances, and rules? Specifically, will they have the ability to ensure compliance with the prohibition of sales to individuals under the age of 21 by conducting spot undercover compliance checks using under age individuals as they are allowed to do now with tobacco and alcohol purchases?"

"Yes, local governments shall have the same rights to ensure compliance of sales of cannabis to minors as they do with tobacco and alcohol."

"If a local government or its law enforcement officials determine that a cannabis business establishment operation is in violation of state or local laws, ordinances, or rules, will they have the ability to fine or take other enforcement action either temporarily or permanently against the bad actor based on the seriousness of the violation?"

"Yes, so long as the ordinances being enforced is not in conflict with the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act." 10100062.docx 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"If a local government official is inside a home completing an inspection for other purposes, such as a final inspection for a permit, can that official report suspected illegal home cultivation activities to local law enforcement?"

"Yes, if a local government official is lawfully inside a home and observes suspected illegal home cultivation activities, the official may report the suspected illegal activity to local law enforcement."

"Thank you. And one more question. A home cultivation can sometimes involve the installation of fixtures, irrigation systems, and sophisticated electrical heating and lighting equipment. Will home cultivation operations be subject to local building, fire, plumbing, and other local codes, and will local governments be allowed to require permits and inspections prior to the installation of home cultivation operations?"

"Yes, local governments may ensure home cultivation operations are in compliance with any local codes, so long as those local codes are not in conflict with the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act."

"Well, thank you very much. And thank you, Representative Cassidy, for your extremely hard work on this Bill. And I look forward to listening to the rest of the debate."

"Chair recognizes Representative Moylan."

"Speaker, will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative, are you familiar with an organization called Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice?" 10100062.docx 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"No, I'm not."

"They represent persons of color and other minorities in the issue of criminal justice. Well, according to the CJCJ, African Americans are twice as likely to be arrested for marijuana in Colorado and Washington. Both states have legalized recreational use and sales. Also, Colorado's marijuana arrest rate for African Americans was nearly double that of Caucasians according to the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Are you aware of these issues?"

"No, I'm not."

"Okay. In Colorado, on view arrests are up 26 percent. Blacks were 39 percent more likely than whites, 21 percent to experience on view arrests. Were you aware of those issues?"

"I am aware that across the country, people of color are disproportionately impacted by enforcement of drug laws. I am not familiar with the specific study you are reading."

"Okay. Well, that’s good. Also, are you aware that the pot industry is targeting minorities much like big tobacco? In Denver, one minority neighborhood has one pot business for every 47 residents accordingly… according to The Denver Post."

"Is there a question?"

"Nope, I just wanted to ask if you're aware of that."

"I'm aware that our proposal has very strict placement and limitations guidelines to prevent over concentration."

"Okay, but you would agree that The Denver Post is a reputable newspaper?"

"I would agree that The Denver Post is a newspaper." 10100062.docx 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Okay. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 28 percent of women living in low income areas tested positive for marijuana use during pregnancy."

"Again, I am not familiar with the source that you're reading from."

"Okay. Well obviously, these are well qualified and reputable sources. Marijuana arrests nearly tripled after legalization of marijuana in Washington, D.C. according to The Washington Post, another highly regarded newspaper. Is it true that in states that have legalized marijuana, minority youths are showing a much larger increase in use of marijuana than there Caucasian counterparts?"

"I'm aware that in states that have legalized, youth use has declined."

"Okay. Well, I would disagree and I have documentation to prove it. And it has also been proven… your claim has been proven false by Politico. Is it true that the New York… that New York and New Jersey recently turned down recreational marijuana?"

"I'm not a Member of the Assembly in either New York or New Jersey."

"Okay. Well, I can let the General Assembly know that they did. Is it true that Lurie Children's Hospital and every other major health organization has come out against recreational marijuana?"

"I deeply appreciate the input that Lurie Children's Hospital provided that is reflected in this piece of legislation." 10100062.docx 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Well, let's just talk about their evidence-based position statement. They state that, 'Lurie Children's Hospital opposes efforts to legalize possession and use of marijuana by adults in Illinois because of the short term and long term health risks to children and adolescents.' So, on Section 55- 30, page 290, it says that… or states that the applications of dispensing organizations are secret. Is that true and would we be able to find out by using the FOI procedure?"

"Under the medical program, all information concerning ownership of the facilities was exempt from FOIA. Under this proposal, ownership information and other information is made available. The only thing that is protected would be the application data that shows security information that could be utilized by folks with nefarious intentions or competitive information…"

"But we would…"

"…and private information such as social security numbers and other issues that we would not want available to be disseminated."

"Well… right, I agree that we don’t need to the social security numbers but you have promised transparency in contrast to medical marijuana. How would we know if the applications are scored fairly if we can't see the applications? I mean, we would like to see the applications."

"Applications are trade secrets, but ownership is not, and that is fully available."

"Okay. When it says a person or entity owning a license shall be disclosed, does that mean the individual owners of a corporation will not be disclosed?" 10100062.docx 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"I'm sorry, repeat your question."

"Okay. When a… when it says a person or entity owning a license shall be disclosed, does that mean the individual owners of a corporation will not be disclosed?"

"Anyone with five percent or more ownership will be disclosed as an owner."

"And I'm explicitly asking about a corporation because we want to verify minority ownership and verify…"

"Anyone with five percent or more ownership will be disclosed."

"So I'll…"

"Representative Moylan, your time has expired. Representative Carroll, do you wish to yield your time to Representative Moylan? Representative Moylan for an additional five minutes."

"So then, we would be assured that we would find out behind the cloak of secrecy that we would know who the applicants are for that corporation."

"I never said that the applicants would be revealed. In fact, I spoke very explicitly about the importance of protecting the private information, the security information that could put people's lives in danger, and the trade secrets. I never said that would be revealed. I was explicit that what needed to be revealed was ownership."

"Okay. Well, how would we verify minority ownership and verify that there are no unsafe characters?"

"Because anyone with five percent or more ownership will be disclosed." 10100062.docx 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Okay. So, local governments can ban cannabis, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"But if they allow them, may they also allow smoking lounges or consumption areas?"

"Local governments have an option to allow private clubs."

"Okay. Now yesterday, we spoke about when we go to a pot shop, there is no registration. Correct?"

"One more time."

"If you go… if an individual goes to a pot shop to purchase recreational marijuana, is there any registration?"

"Not for non-patients."

"Okay. So, is it true that they can purchase 30 grams at a time?"

"Yes."

"So, if I go in there at 9:00 in the morning I can purchase 30 grams?"

"Yes."

"Ten o'clock in the morning I can purchase 30 grams, 11:00, 12:00, and so on?"

"If you are in possession of more than 30 grams, you are operating outside of the law."

"Yeah, but that wasn’t my question. Is it possible to go into a pot shop and purchase 30 grams at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and so on?"

"The answer is that if you are ever in possession of more than 30 grams, you are operating outside of the law." 10100062.docx 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Yeah, well that wasn’t my question. My question was it possible that you can go purchase those amounts, whether you have them or not?"

"If anyone is in possession of more than 30 grams, they are operating outside the law."

"Yup. So again, is it true that you can go into a pot shop and purchase 30 grams at 9:00, come back at 10:00, come back at 11:00, come back at 12:00 and purchase 30 grams each time? What…"

"Representative Moylan, can we move it along?"

"Okay. Well, I want to get her to answer the question."

"She's answered it."

"I've answered your question, Sir."

"Okay. Well, I don’t think so. Okay, is it also possible to have a payday loan, liquor store, and pot shop in the same block?"

"This Bill doesn’t speak to those issues at all. That is an issue for local government."

"Okay, but is it possible?"

"That is an issue for local government."

"Okay. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is possible to have a payday loan shop, liquor store, and pot shop in the same block because there's only so much of a distance between them. Recently, you stated that some of the information from the opposition was not dated. Do you believe that the New York Times is a reputable paper?"

"Again, it's a newspaper."

"Okay. Well, do you believe that they are reputable? Either a yes or no." 10100062.docx 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"My opinion of my news sources isn’t relative… relevant to this debate. It's a newspaper."

"Well, it is relative because they take an opposing view. Let me just let the General Assembly realize that in The New York Times they are stating, 'Getting Worse, Not Better: Illegal Pot Market Booming in California Despite Legislation.' How about The New Yorker? That seems to be a more leftist leaning newspaper… magazine. Do you agree that they're a reputable magazine?"

"I'm not interested in giving you my opinion on your reading materials, Mr. Moylan. I mean…"

"Well, no, it's important because they have taken positions that clearly oppose your statements saying that recreational marijuana is not harmful. Do you believe that hospitals have to report correct information about their facilities according to State and Federal Law?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Thank you. Well, according to the national… Denver… according to the University of Colorado Hospital, ER visits linked to cannabis use quadrupled after legislation in Colorado. In particular, edibles were linked to a far higher rates of hospitalization and can cause symptoms including panic attacks, mental disorders like sycosis. Would you agree?"

"I would agree that prior to them revisiting their rules and their laws around edibles, they had some problems. Which is why our law, which is… we're here to talk about our law…"

"Right." 10100062.docx 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"…has very strict rules about THC content, packaging, and public education around the use of edibles."

"Right, but this is what's happening on the ground in the states that you have said that you're modeling this Bill and other states have…"

"Representative Moylan, your time has expired yet again. But it looks like Representative Keicher would like to yield his to you, so you have an additional five minutes."

"Yes, Sir."

"Please make it brief, Sir."

"Thank you, Representative. And I would really thank the House for listening to this important dissertation. To the Bill. Each and every one of us was elected by our constituents to fight for their interests. We are elected to this Body to stand up for our communities, stand up for our kids, and champion policies that will make Illinois a better place to live, work, and raise a family. It is our job to make sure that normal, everyday Illinoisans have a voice. For too long, on too many issues to count, the rich and powerful have had a voice in State Government while everyday Illinoisans, like the plumber in my district in Des Plaines or the single mother in Chicago, have gotten screwed. If this Bill passes, a giant big money industry will commercialize another harmful, addictive drug in our state. What do I mean commercialize? This is not about making it okay to smoke a joint on the weekend, it's about big business focusing on making a profit, now having a license to make more money off the most vulnerable in the state. This legislation will create a new commercial marijuana industry, Big Marijuana. Just like Big 10100062.docx 27  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Tobacco did for years with their candy cigarettes and Big Pharma still does by over selling and over prescribing opioids. Big Marijuana will come into Illinois and target our kids, target our poor communities, and hook a whole new generation on this drug. With Big Marijuana, the rich will get richer and every day Illinoisans will be left to pay for it. It would be left to citizens to pay the price on this terrible Bill while Big Marijuana investors get rich off the backs of our working people. Well I say, not in my back yard or our back yard, not in Illinois. Illinois deserves better. First let me make one thing clear. Today's marijuana isn’t the same marijuana from even 10 to 15 years ago. Woodstock marijuana was around three to five percent THC. Today's marijuana can be up to 99 percent THC and the effect it has on the brain chemistry, addiction, safety on our roads and our workplace, and even everything else is a serious concern. Study after study is coming out showing the harms of marijuana. I know many of you in this chamber are looking for a long term revenue benefits. With a deficit, it's easy to think marijuana can be the answer to our budget woes. People are already using marijuana, so why not regulate and tax it? The simple fact is, we must not go this route because marijuana will cost our state and taxpayers far more. Law enforcement, who has vocally opposed this Bill, is rightly concerned about traffic facilities, fatalities, and drug driving. Since legislation, marijuana related traffic fatalities have jumped an astonishing 151 percent and overall traffic deaths have increased 35 percent in Colorado. Ladies and Gentlemen, that's no coincidence. Let's stand up for our 10100062.docx 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 kids, let's stand up for our communities, and let's stand up for our citizens. It’s what we are elected to do. Vote 'no' on this Bill. Vote 'no' on Big Marijuana. And vote 'no' on commercializing marijuana in Illinois. Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. And I urge a 'no' vote."

"Chair recognizes Representative Windhorst."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Illinois residents, yes. Nonresidents would be 15 grams."

"They're aligned with the penalties for possession… underage possession of alcohol."

"There is a civil violation and if there is a nexus with driving, there is automatic suspension of the license… or revocation, sorry."

"No, I'm not."

"The possession… the penalty for possession of cannabis in that quantity, generally in our law, is the civil 10100062.docx 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 violation. A juvenile should not be subjected to a greater penalty than an adult."

"This Bill is not about that."

"But if you Sponsor that, Bill I'd be delighted to cosponsor it with you."

"Thank you."

"Not that I'm aware of."

"If a parent… I'm sorry. If a minor is in contact with law enforcement, yes, parents are notified."

"They've not brought that concern to me." 10100062.docx 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Admissibility of technology for roadside testing will be determined by the courts in accordance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 702. Whether the testing platform that Michigan uses, which we discussed last night, passes that standard, is up to the courts."

"No."

"Just a moment. When we passed the civil enforcement Bill that set our DUI standards and enabled departments to use the field sobriety test, that… the ISP has not begun that process with regard to that. However, according to the State Police, they're operational at the Springfield Lab in the process of acquiring validation and instrumentation for the Chicago Lab with regard to official crime lab toxicology tests."

"Also… also urine tests are admissible." 10100062.docx 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"And field sobriety tests are statutorily admissible."

"We enabled that two and a half years ago."

"State Police inform me that they have not done that."

"Representative Windhorst, your time has expired. Representative Severin, do you rise to yield your time Representative Windhorst?"

"Representative Windhorst for an additional five minutes."

"Once again, ISP is operational at the Springfield Lab and in the process of acquiring validation instrumentation for the Chicago Lab."

"They are fully operational at the Springfield Lab."

"Yes, these dogs can still be used. If a dog indicates on cannabis, we do believe that it will be probable cause for the officer to conduct a search or extend a Terry stop. We are not changing any laws on what changes probable cause or reasonable suspicion. If the dog's indication can be used as probable cause or reasonable suspicion today, it can be used after this Bill passes."

"We are not changing any laws on what constitutes probable cause or reasonable suspicion. If the dog's indication can be used as probable cause or reasonable suspicion today, it can be used after this Bill passes."

"I can do it again."

"Low level possession, yes."

"Ten grams or less."

"Define effectiveness."

"I am aware that the ACLU did do some research on that, but I don’t have it available to me at this time."

"In that same law, we permitted… we set the nanogram standard for THC in blood and saliva and we enabled the use of the field sobriety tests."

"To my knowledge, only one department has done a pilot project on it."

"I am unaware."

"Representative Windhorst, your time has expired. Representative Parkhurst, do you wish to yield your time to Representative Windhorst?"

"Representative Windhorst for an additional five minutes."

"Members, we still have many people seeking recognition on this Bill. Please try to keep your remarks as concise as possible and within the five minute time limit. We will allow you to yield time, but please make an attempt to keep it within the five minute time limit so that we can move on with the proceedings for today. Representative Evans is recognized for five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield for a couple of questions?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"It was kind of odd asking Kelly Cassidy about Bills like this, because I do believe in you, but I gotta be sure on the record. What can you say or what can you give me to say to people in my community that are concerned about job loss, because many of these companies who drug testing? What can… can you say to that?"

"I'm sorry. I don't…" 10100062.docx 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Job loss due to drug testing. What can you say? What information can you give me to ease their concerns about losing their jobs because of drug testing?"

"The same zero-tolerance policies that are in place now exists… will exist after."

"Will this legislation impact them?"

"This legislation just affirms the existence and the right for employers to have zero-tolerance policies. It doesn't change the status quo with regard to the ability to have a zero-tolerance policy."

"I know there's been a lot of health things mentioned. You know I'm a cancer survivor and pain management is an issue for folks throughout this state. What can you say would be the health implications to individuals? Because we call it recreational but I think it goes deeper than that. Can you speak to that?"

"Absolutely. The ability for folks who may not be able to access a card because of our incredibly restrictive list of conditions would certainly be a health impact. Folks who could manage conditions that aren't currently included in our medical cannabis program is one. Another health impact on our state would be that by bringing this product out of the shadows and into a tested and regulated marketplace, we can ensure that products aren't contaminated with pesticides, or mold, or heavy metals, or rat poisoning, as we saw with synthetic cannabis in Peoria. There would be no need to access synthetic cannabis laced with rat poisoning under a marketplace like this because you would be able to go to a safe and clean facility and purchase the product whether 10100062.docx 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 you're treating a condition or not. But you could be assured that this was a safe, tested product."

"Thank you, Representative Kelly Cassidy. And I appreciate your work on this issue and all of the Sponsors. To the Bill. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am a black man from the South Side of Chicago. And if you go through my communities, it's not an opinion, it's a fact, that the war on drugs has ravaged my community. And I've talked to Representative Cassidy about how the war on drugs has personally impacted my own family. How my father, uncles, friends have been victims of the fraudulent war on drugs. And now, we sit here with a piece of legislation that is allowing the commercialization, allowing this drug, this thing called cannabis, to be legal. And all of my life I've seen the impacts and how it's negatively impacted my community. And I asked myself… you know, I have trepidation. I've had trepidation on this process. And we had a Governor who stood up and said I am going to make this legal. And do I jump up and down? No, because all I've seen my entire life is the negative impacts. And… and I see a Sponsor in Kelly Cassidy, if you go through her array of Bills, it's been nothing but make the world a better place Bill. She is fighting for everybody. So, when she gets the Bill, it further… it brings me further complexities because I want to support. I know where Kelly's heart is. I see Christian Mitchell. I see Jehan Gordon my friend, my colleague, and it still gives me trepidation. But then I look at this piece of legislation and I… I'm in this NCSL with the Sponsor in the Senate, Toi, and we've talked about what every state has done. Absolutely nothing when it comes to equity. 10100062.docx 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Absolutely nothing when it comes to criminal justice reform. Each and every state. And me and Toi would sit in these conferences and I'd say every state has done nothing. The liberal State of California has bypassed my community. They refused to do anything when it comes to legislation. And I look at this board and I see this Bill and as… as a black man, it gets me emotional because finally, finally the State of Illinois is going to look at my community and say something. My community is going to say we want you have to piece of the pie. You know, look at my brothers, my uncles, my father and say we want you to have a job. Because only thing that's going to help my community is jobs. We want you to clear your records. We want to do that. And yesterday, it was… I was just filled with emotion because, finally, there's a piece of legislation that’s gonna do that. And I've been here for seven years and I've been in politics nearly my entire life with Christian Mitchell, we were kids when we started, and I have never seen a piece of legislation that's going to address the problems that I have. I was going get…"

Speaker Turner: "Representative, your time has expired. Representative Andrade is recognized. Would you like to yield your time to Representative Evans?"

"Yes."

"Representative Evans for an additional five minutes."

"…in my car and go home and not vote for this Bill if there was not real evidence. I don't care about this job. It was no way I could look my father in the face and the men that I'm going to go back to this weekend, and tell them that we didn't 10100062.docx 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 do anything when it comes to background. I would have walked out of here and taken my key. When I look at this legislation and I see real results and I didn't believe it. You know, it was no way, because in the years that I've been here, this job is full of false promises. Yeah, we're going to help you out. But we continue… continually get left hanging. And to see this piece of legislation, again, it warms my heart. And I knew it because I know how Kelly Cassidy does things. But it… it's not a trusting business. And when the Governor got up and he was on TV and we're going to do all these things, I did not believe it. I said yeah, yeah, they're going to talk about it and it'll be watered down. This is real. And what I'm hoping is that when we go back to NCSL, and we talk to my colleagues throughout the country, that they use it as a template. It's very… you know, we always use examples of what other states are doing and it irritates me because the greatest state in the country is the State of Illinois. And I want Indiana and I want Missouri… because me and my family members in St. Louis that I care about with criminal records and I want them to get expungements. I want them to get the opportunity to work. There's no 'make the world a better place' organization that's going to solve the problems in my community, but job opportunities and freeing these workers will because I've seen it. I haven't seen it in my opinion. I haven't seen it in no study. I've seen it in my own family. When you give a person an opportunity, you open up a window. You change not only communities but you change generations, because I'm one of those individuals. An opportunity was given to the men before me and that's why I'm standing here. I thank 10100062.docx 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 you, Kelly. And, again, I thank everybody that's worked on it. And I thank the Governor because I did not trust you, I did not believe you. But I do now, because this is real. And again… and I thank all of my colleagues because everything I wanted is not in this Bill, but I think those are the best pieces of legislation. Even my Members on the other side who are on the conservative… who are conservative, I thank you for giving this a chance because this means something in my community. This means something to my family. And again, I thank everybody that worked on it. Marishonta. I mean there's so many across the list. And, you know, I wanted to engage but it was too emotional. This is so important to me because, again, I've seen what happens when an individual is restricted. I've seen the men who cry when they lose their jobs because they didn't want to put on there that they had a felony conviction. I've seen the young folks who were rejected financial aid because they had a background because they had a possession of marijuana. And I've seen the destruction that that's caused to generations. I've seen it up close. And it's a devastating view. But now I can be a part of rolling that back because of some people that I work with who I have a stronger trust for. So, thank you all. And I not only urge an 'aye' vote but I hope that we celebrate this Bill and that we continue to work for. You know, I'm a utopian viewing individual. I've survived cancer. I believe anything is possible. And I want to continue to make this Act better. I want to make sure that the communities like mine are positively impacted. And I want to ask the Sponsor, but I know she's going to do it anyway, I hope that you continue 10100062.docx 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 to work on this issue so that the impacts on our community are positive in every way. So thank you, Kelly Cassidy. Sorry, Jehan, that I didn't believe you because I sure didn't. Again, thank you all that's worked on this issue and I'm proud to be a supporter, and I urge an enthusiastic 'aye' vote on this very important issue, this very important business issue, this very important community issue. And this is a generational life changing vote that I'm taking. I'm holding back my tears because I'm a grown man. But I want to cry. I'll cry when I get in the car tonight… later today. But thank you all. And again, I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Chair recognizes Representative DeLuca."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen. To the Bill. This issue has been a very important issue to me. And I've spoke out, you know where I stand on it. I think it's just because of the way I was raised, the decisions that I made myself as I was growing up. It's reflected in how I choose to raise my children and hope that they make decisions a certain way as they grow up. And this Bill moves in the completely opposite direction of the efforts I'm trying to make as a parent. Telling our children, our young adults, basically, that getting stoned is a condoned and acceptable recreational activity. And I just have a real problem with that. And when it comes to this Bill, there's a lot to criticize. Some of it has already happened. But no matter how you package this… no matter how you package this, whether it's revenue, or it's criminal justice reform, or it's just saying that people are smoking it anyway, so just give up. You know, I don't have a crystal ball, but I can 10100062.docx 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 pretty much guarantee you where we're going to be in 10 years, where we're going to be in 20 years, when it comes to this issue. And it’s not going to be good. So, I want to leave an image. I want to leave an image for you. You see this? This is your brain. There it is, folks. This is your brain on drugs. So today, for my family, for my children, for your families, your children, and especially… and especially for African American and Hispanic communities, vote 'no'. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Morgan."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative Cassidy, I would like to add to the legislative record some of the things that we haven't talked about but also to refute some of the… what I call nonsense that we heard, including wasting eggs that should have been used to make a soufflé or something instead of making a ridiculous point that was outdated for 30 years. Representative Cassidy, could you tell us a little bit about the public education that is in this legislation that is going to be meaningful in a way that we have failed to provide our children since the days of the war on drugs with an egg in a pan?"

"Absolutely. We have been incredibly intentional with regard to the design of the public education component of this Bill because when we set out to do this, our stated goal was to reduce youth access. We know that youth report 80… 87 percent of youth report that cannabis is easier to acquire currently than alcohol. And we know, quite frankly, that teens 10100062.docx 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 and young adults are capable of making good decisions when provided with good information. The idea that we expect our kids to ace the AP Bio exam but think that putting an egg in a frying pan is going to tell them what it means to take a substance into their body, is ludicrous. And so, we have formed a vigorous approach to public education that includes a Public Health Advisory Task Force that was a request of the State Medical Society, and Lurie Children's, and others that will constantly look at incoming science and make recommendations for how we should approach this but also looking at the studies and the work that's been done in other states. In Colorado, where youth use has dropped year over year, they make it very, very clear and discuss things like neuro-receptors, and addiction pathways, and the impact of THC on developing brains. And as a result, they are seeing excellent results and we want to have that same approach. We want to take it the next step further and make sure that we are constantly vigilant to make sure that this public education campaign is as scientifically accurate and respectful of the ability of teens to make decisions as we can make it."

"Thank you, Representative. And a few clarifying questions. As you know, I have a lot of interest and commitment to protecting the Medical Cannabis Program and the medical cannabis patients. My understanding is there are a number of protections in this legislation that protect all privileges and rights for patients that currently exist for the Medical Cannabis Program. Is that right?"

"Yes." 10100062.docx 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"And as we start to roll out the existing medical cannabis dispensaries and transition them to an adult-use program, won't they be required to provide an ample supply and variety of medical products for medical patients the way that they're currently providing right now to protect the supply and protect the patients?"

"Absolutely. The beauty of the regulatory system that you helped to build that… that operates our medical program is that these facilities, both the growers and the dispensary operators, know exactly what products are needed for the patient base. And we have put strong language into place to ensure, not just the quantity, but the variety and the availability is guaranteed for patients before any adult-use sales can be made."

"And I know that we're taking a kind of go-slow approach in terms of the expansion of potential licenses to make sure we don't have an oversupply, which of course, could mean that they're shortages at the beginning. So, aren't there protections in there? In the event of a shortage, medical cannabis patients will have priority. Is that right?"

"Absolutely. Medical patients will always have first priority."

"Thank you, Representative. To the Bill. To some of the comments earlier, we all recognize that statistics and data can be manipulated, in fact, is manipulated. And we're selectively choosing to, really, reinforce a preexisting notion. Correlation is not causation, as one of my colleagues on the other side accurately noted. In some of the nonsense studies that we talked about here on the floor, to me, belong 10100062.docx 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 more in The Onion, and not on the House Floor. When medical cannabis passed in this chamber six years ago, I heard a lot of the same rhetoric. As the state's Medical Cannabis Director, to start this program, I heard a lot of doomsday predictions. Violence would increase in Illinois. Drug driving is going to be rampant. Medical cannabis is going to be everywhere for children in schools. Law enforcement's going to be overwhelmed. Cannabis is going to be diverted. And you know what? Literally none of that happened because we did it right. And this Bill does it right too. I want to really congratulate my partner in crime, Representative Kelly Cassidy, and all the Representatives who worked on this legislation including…"

Speaker Turner: "Representative, your time has expired. Representative Costa-Howard, would you like to yield your time to Representative Morgan? Representative Morgan for an additional five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to congratulate Representative Cassidy and all those who worked on the Bill, including indispensable staffers. And really indispensable Rose Ashby and Chris Lindsey who put months, and months, and months of their lives into this Bill. I've been working with this outstanding Legislator to my right, a woman who I would literally drive off a cliff with if she asked me, long before I even joined this Legislature. As the first Director of the state's Medical Cannabis Program, I am so impressed with this product. That the core tenets of it, the core tenets of this Bill, reflect the core tenets of what we want as a Body and what we want as a state. This legislation is without a doubt 10100062.docx 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 the most social equity focused cannabis legislation ever passed by a State Legislature and will provide a strong foundation for medical cannabis patients for the future. If you believe in criminal justice reform, vote for this Bill. If you believe that the war on drugs decimated our communities and needs to be remedied, vote for this Bill. If you're concerned about the damage of the opioid abuse and crisis in our communities throughout the state, vote for this Bill. If you want to create new high-paying and strong… strongly trained union jobs, vote for this Bill. If you want to expunge hundreds of thousands of low-level drug crime records, vote for this Bill. If you want to make history in Illinois and put our neighbor states on notice and set the nation's gold standard on cannabis regulations, vote for this Bill. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Jones."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was told earlier today that I was a little emotional. So, I am little emotional because this is a personal issue for me. You know, I will talk about my brother, who as a young boy, got arrested and now carries a felony around because he got arrested for marijuana. He's been married 20 years, he's a good stable family. And when I first heard about this Bill, I heard words like, we're going to try to recapture, or redo, or remake what the war on drugs did to black people in America or in Illinois. Does this Bill do that? We also heard words like expungement, that we're going to expunge the 800 thousand people who got caught up in the war on drugs. And then the expungement process changed in this Bill. So I will, in a later point, ask the Sponsor to 10100062.docx 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 speak on record about the intent of this Bill. So, for people like me who are trying to reconcile we're going to support… I'm going to support this Bill, you know, we have to learn how the process is. And if you think about this in the last couple days and how this Bill has gone, and I want to thank the Sponsor for all that she's done, this is what came out. 610 pages of a Senate Amendment that came out the other day. How many of you have read these 610 pages? We have to be clear of what's gonna happen when we do this Bill, that everything that we say and we give our word on is gonna happen in this process. If that's the case, support this Bill. Now, we had this Bill start off, Senate Bill 7. We had Representative Ammons do House Bill 902. We had House Joint Resolution 3 by Representative Cassidy. And now, we're at House Bill 1438 on the Senate Amendment to concur. So, we have to be sure of what we're doing. Now, will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative Cassidy, we started this, we talked about expunging records, 800 thousand records. Can you guarantee me, going forward, no black or brown young men are going to be caught up in the system and have to come back and we have to redo this legislation to ensure that their rights are protected?"

"I'm not sure what you're asking about going forward."

"This deal with expungements…"

"It does deal with expungements but it's only retroactive. So, I want make sure that we're clear that it… that this is looking at convictions up to this point. The process that exists currently remains in place whereby people 10100062.docx 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 could petition for expungement or sealing. But this… this Bill addresses past convictions and arrest records."

"Okay. So, when we started this process, one of the things that I talked about throughout this, if our goal was to make sure that the people who are going to benefit off the black… off the backs of the black men that have went to prison in this process, this is gonna create millionaires. So, it's not gonna create too many black millionaires. And I've talked about putting legislation specifically that will deal with creating black millionaires and business men in this process. The Ohio legislation required 15 percent… are you aware of the Ohio legislation that passed, that got challenged?"

"I am. I'm aware that that was held unconstitutional."

"Well, it was held unconstitutional but in parts of it where the Supreme Court came back, the State Law required 15 percent of all licenses to go to businesses majority owned by economically disadvantaged group. And they specifically said African Americans, Indians, or Hispanics. Why wasn't that kind of language put in this Bill?"

"Concerns over the constitutionality of the… in that case, that talked about the need for a disparity study. And that's specifically what we did in this Bill, was to put in place as many possible pathways for ensuring equity within the licensing process. And then the hard stop so that there would be a disparity study that would then possibly permit us, if those first steps didn’t create those opportunities as we hope they do, by putting so many points on social equity…"

"Representative Jones, your time has expired. Representative Mayfield, do you wish to yield your time to 10100062.docx 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Representative Jones? She says that she does. Representative Jones for an additional five minutes."

"As we create a new industry to… sorry… where individuals and businesses can profit from the sale of cannabis, we recognize that individuals in certain communities have faced higher levels of arrest and incarceration for violating the prohibition of the sale and possession of cannabis. The Social Equity Applicant Program reconciles this reality by giving additional points to individuals who have been personally impacted…"

"Representative, I only have four more minutes left. So, let's concise this."

"Okay. All right. So, where… where I was talking about the hard stop, after the issuance of licenses in January 2020 and the first issuance of licenses to new market in July 2020, the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer will conduct a disparity study of the market to be completed by March of 2021…"

"So… so, Representative…"

"…which could then allow us to change that set aside."

"So quickly, what did that disparity study say about the impact on African Americans and then going forward? And was any of that language in that disparity study put in this Bill?"

"There has… there's not been a disparity study because there is not a… an adult-use marketplace. So, we cannot do a disparity study on a market that doesn't exist and impact that market. So, that's… that's the intentionality here is to 10100062.docx 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 ensure that we do the steps on the front end that will allow us to take further steps if… if these steps don't work."

"Well, you know, we are the Legislature, we can do anything that we want to make a Bill as good or bad as we want to. So, I would… if you're giving your commitment that going forward, that after we do this for two years and it's not working, that those disparity studies will be done and put in here…"

"You have my word."

"And… all right."

"And it's baked into the Bill to do the disparity study. And if there are added steps that we have to take, I am right there with you to take them."

"Representative, I want to point to your attention, I gotta lot of questions, but I will concisely. So, part of your Bill goes to Community College Vocational Pilot Program. It seems like a lot of language in this Bill is waxing-over what we should just put in strong language. Some of that waxing-over is the social equity piece when we should just call it like putting… giving black business owners applications. In this piece, you talk about the Community College Vocational Pilot Program. You don't specifically mention any of the 48 community colleges in this program. Why aren't any of the colleges specifically named in the program?"

"The Department of Agriculture and the Community College Board will pilot… launch this in eight community colleges."

"What are those eight community colleges?"

"That's to be determined in conjunction with the Community College Board and the Department of Agriculture." 10100062.docx 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"So, community colleges have admonished… been admonished by the Federal Government that they're not supposed to have drugs on their campuses. Will this impact the community college and the administrator who participates in this program? Will they be charged in any way if they participate in this program?"

"That's up to the community college. You’re asking if they'll be impacted by… on the federal level, and I don't believe that that's the case."

"So, no Pell Grants will be impacted? No…"

"No."

"They won't get a letter saying that you can't have these many students, black students, coming to their…"

"No."

"So, part of where we are now is that we… you've been working on this for three years. And we know… I have to go back to my community, born and raised in Ford Heights, where only probably one percent of the people come out of Ford Heights. You know, you were asked earlier about is this gonna have more dispensaries as opposed to businesses in the community. You also asked about, you know, how communities are going to do this on the local level. Can you ensure me that if any community takes the steps to have more dispensaries than jobs? Is there a limit on the dispensaries that a community can put in their… in the local government?"

"Each… each Bureau of Labor Statistics district in the state has a cap on a total number per district. There is a limit on how close together the facilities can be. They can't be less than 1500 feet apart. And there's an overall cap on 10100062.docx 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 total dispensaries statewide. Total potential licenses, there's not even a requirement that we have as many as we permit."

"To the Bill. I will just say that, you know, I am as perplexed as anybody in here about this legislation because how deeply it impacts, not only my community… I have to go back to a community like Ford Heights and tell them the advantages and disadvantages of this Bill and I'm not sure I'm there yet. So, I will continue to listen to the rest of this debate. I want to thank the Sponsor, and thank the Members who have asked questions about this important piece of legislation."

"Chair recognizes Representative Stuart."

"Thank you. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Thank you. I just… I had a few things that I wanted to get a little bit of clarification on. But I first wanted to say I was a cosponsor on the Resolution that Representative Moylan filed. And I think the purpose of that was to do exactly what was done, was to take some time to make sure concerns… and to slow things down and here we are on the last day. So, I think we accomplished slowing down. I talked with Representative Welter and I was very happy to hear of all the input that was put in and all the different negotiations that went on. I think he and I shared a lot of the same concerns, and in our discussion it seems to me he was very satisfied with the path that those concerns took. I do just have one detail though that I do want to ask about that would be troubling for my community and for a lot of other folks. I do 10100062.docx 54  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 understand that when you originally started talking about this… and I know that this is a years' long process, not just this one Session… there was discussion of not allowing for any local taxation because I understand the concern of over taxation and then not having people go to the legitimate market. But then I understand that that local taxation piece was then put back in, correct?"

"Yes."

"So, when I was looking with the information that you shared and when you talked with us, I saw that municipalities can enact a local sales tax of up to three percent. And obviously that's locally determined."

"Yes."

"And then there's a county level tax that's allowed, if the county so chooses, of up to .75 percent in incorporated areas, but then I saw that there's also a three percent for Cook County. And I don't represent Cook County. I represent Madison County. I represent St. Clair County. People where I live constantly remind me I don't represent Chicago, and I know that. I don't represent Chicago. I represent a very different part of the state. And I don't think it's fair to my counties, I don't think it's fair for my colleagues in Will County, and Lake County, and all of the other counties… DuPage County, McHenry County, you name it, to be treated at a different level than Cook County. So, I wanted to say to Representative Cassidy that I… I really appreciate you talking with me about that concern. I appreciate your assurances that you're going to fix that discrepancy."

"I am." 10100062.docx 55  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"That ultimately every county across the State of Illinois will be allowed, if they so choose, to enact up to the same level of taxation."

"That is the intention. Absolutely. We are aware of the need for a trailer Bill and that is one of the items. This was a late addition, and my apologies that you were left out and we will address it."

"Thank you very much."

"Chair recognizes Representative Scherer."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. I have been very torn this whole week of whether I should speak on some of these very contentious issues. On this one though, I feel like my constituents really want me to have their voice heard. So, they've been talking to me, they've been calling me. I've heard from them at the African American churches. I've heard from them calls to my office, at the grocery store, at the restaurants. Everywhere I go I hear about this. So, their problem is they don't feel their concerns have been taken seriously and I agree. The Sheriffs' have called me. The Sheriffs' Association from Colorado has called me. The police tell me that they are going to have serious issues trying to monitor the homegrown, that it can be grown in out buildings. They said that the Colorado Sheriffs have told them there's a rise in the cartel involvement. So at the end of the day, there are just too many unaddressed concerns that, perhaps someday, if all these concerns could be figured out and taken seriously, we could take a vote on it. But why it has to be today is beyond me. When I ask questions about Sheriffs' Association and then I'm told that there's research on the 10100062.docx 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 other side to offset that. Well, that could be true but those of us who want to believe the Sheriffs' Association and our physicians, I feel like my constituents have a right to hear the answers to this. Again, too many unaddressed concerns. An OB doctor came up to me and said, I'm very concerned about the risk to babies and the mothers. Another one said they're concerned about the addiction issues. General practice physicians have told me that they're worried about the brain health. I've had the common citizens concerned saying, I'm going to be driving down the road with my baby in the back seat and somebody could be stoned in the car next to me and kill my baby and everything they do is legal unless they get caught. My sister died because someone was texting and driving and didn't get caught. She was only 70 years old. Unless we can take everybody's concerns seriously, I don't feel that it's fair when we say this group of people's concerns count and we'll answer them. This group of people's concerns don't agree with how I feel so they're not gonna be answered. They're gonna just be blown off and say there's research on the other side to offset it. I agree with what Representative DeLuca said earlier. I raised my children to believe that drugs can mess your life up. And I don't know how they're going to raise their children in the same light if it's legal. I have to stand up for my constituents, and my constituents overwhelmingly have asked me to vote 'no'. And so with that, I also urge a 'no' vote. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Weber. Just a moment, Representative. How about now?" 10100062.docx 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Chair recognizes Representative McCombie."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"The Department of Agriculture is tasked with setting an appropriate cap."

"At this moment, I do not."

"I tend to be a pretty hands-on Sponsor, even after passage of a Bill. I like to see that when my babies leave the nest, they can fly."

"At the moment I do not."

"Pulling that up, and at the same I will say we've aligned with the Parent Host Law, where we… where parents who host parties that where alcohol is served. We've aligned with that with regard to cannabis, and then there are others. The people that are charged with selling the product have risks as well, of course, if they intentionally sell to a minor. Someone who knowingly authorize or permits consumption of cannabis by underage invitees is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. And if it results in great bodily harm or death to any person, it's a Class 4 felony."

"Then there's also contributing to the delinquency of a minor. There are other things that aren't specific in this law that are in our underlying law that would apply as well, such as that parent host piece."

"Yes."

"No."

"If they so choose."

"It would be akin to like a hookah lounge or a cigar club." 10100062.docx 61  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"There are. The state is divided into Bureau of Labor statistics districts and there are caps per those districts which allows a little bit of latitude in terms of distributing them to ensure that they are evenly distributed around the state. So, there are caps on that and then cities are able to put their zoning restrictions in place. They could set greater distances between them, for example, as a way to limit the number that could be available."

"That is… that is for the locals to determine on their own. They are complete… they are only empowered to do so within this law, they are not required to do so. And so within that, they are able to do it in any way they see fit."

"That's for dispensary licenses."

"Not the social sites. That is 100 percent under the control of the locals."

"Exactly."

"Yeah, most… most states do the 30 and 15, or something close to that. But that… that's what most of them do. And they pretty much all have a lower possession quantity for non-residents."

"No, that would be the equivalent thereof combined. So, you can't have that, and that, and that. It would be a cumulative amount."

"So it's 30, or 500, or 5, or any combination thereof. And the point of sales systems kind of do that in other places. This is also very similar to how it's done in other states."

"Representative McCombie, your time is expired. Representative Marron, do you wish to yield your time to Representative McCombie?"

"Representative McCombie for an additional five minutes."

"Inclusive of… a combination." 10100062.docx 63  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"That's not my intention. However, in every Session I've been a part of, there has an alcohol related Bill. You know, this is… this is something that I anticipate folks will want to make changes in both directions on in each year and it's up to us as a Body to determine whether it's the appropriate policy to adopt for our state."

"It could go in either direction. We see Bills all the time. It's a question of, you know, if a majority of us determine that it's good public policy."

"It's demand driven. But those breakdowns of geographic… those geography breakdowns are an overlay for the entire 10100062.docx 64  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 licensing mechanism. The… the up-to number on each of those waves is determined by demand."

"Chair recognizes Representative Connor."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative, within the revenue section of the Bill, it looks like about 45 percent is going to be either the 10100062.docx 65  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Triple R Program or going to mental health and substance abuse treatment, both of which I think are fantastic and admirable. I have some communities that are gonna qualify in terms of arrests and communities of color, but they're obviously a lot smaller than those in Cook County. And can you explain in any way how I can reassure the residents down in my district that that 45 percent of the revenue is not going to hit any hurdles on its way down from Cook down to Will County?"

"In the case of the mental health prevention and substance abuse, that's going to be administered by DHS and with assurances that it… that it's spread in a way that's representative of the state. With regard to the Three R Fund or the R Three Fund, that will be the… the designation to the R Three Board is very explicit about assuring representation, and that board is how that money will be distributed."

"Okay. Thank you. To the Bill. And I think, coming from a prosecutorial background, my position may be a little counterintuitive so I feel like I have to discuss it today. And I want to first thank the Sponsor for taking a meeting back in December involving two of my local police chiefs, who are part of the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association, at which we brought up the issue of home-grows. The chiefs that I brought to the meeting did not want any home-grows at all and I think the position on the other side was home-grows for recreational users. And I just want to thank the Sponsor, we came to a compromise position during that meeting that I think was fantastic. And this was going back, you know, more than seven months, of limiting the home grows to those who had been medically licensed. Because the intent of the home grows 10100062.docx 66  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 was compassionate as far as the cost of medical cannabis purchased from a dispensary. So, I want to thank the Sponsor very much for that position. As a prosecutor who worked in the courtroom that handled expungements in Will County, I just kind of want to highlight some of the experiences that I went through in terms of handling those. And I want to try to help the Body understand some of the disparities that went on, that jumped out at me as a prosecutor. So, if you can kind of picture the irony of I'm working on a domestic homicide or a gang murder. And in between my preparation as the court calls going on, I have to tell a nurse's assistant or I have to tell a plumber pipefitter from the union that under State Law in Illinois, I can't expunge their cannabis conviction, so he can't work at the nuc plant and she can't apply to be an RN, because they decided to have a joint in the Cook County Forest Preserve back in 1985. That's a tough position to be in when you're dealing with violent criminals and someone comes in who's kept their nose clean for a decade or more and they say, hey I just want to make some more money for my family. I just want to, you know, get a couple extra Christmas gifts for my kids and in order to pass this background check for the nuc plant or in order to get my RN's license, I have to get this conviction off my record. And you have tell them, I'm sorry. I can't do it for you. I'm a prosecutor. I'm bound by what the law is, today, in Illinois. And the law in Illinois, today, is you got a conviction. And it doesn't matter that you kept… that you've been a great law abiding citizen for the last 10 years, for the last 15 years, you're gonna leave today empty handed. And you're going to 10100062.docx 67  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 have to go back and tell your family I'm sorry I tried but I couldn't get it done because the structure wasn't right. To our credit here in Illinois, we have taken great steps to fix that problem. But when I was handling it, I had to turn a lot of people away and explain to them I'm sorry, the law doesn't allow the relief that you are asking for. So, the reason that I am strong 'yes' today on this program is to make up for those years that I stood in a courtroom and had to tell person after person who had made a dumb mistake with cannabis, I'm sorry. There's no room at the inn. You… you can't get the help that you want. You can't help your families. And we have a lot of time to make up for. And I think that is a very…"

"Representative, your time has expired. Can you just make your final remark?"

"Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a lot of time to make up for. This is a chance to do it. I would strongly encourage an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Mazzochi."

Speaker Turner: "Representative, your time has expired. Representative Chesney, do you wish to yield your time to Representative Mazzochi?"

"Representative Mazzochi for an additional five minutes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Welch for five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"I see that a labor peace agreement is a component of the scoring metric, Representative. And that is important to me because labor can help guarantee the cannabis industry has good, well-paying jobs, with benefits and offer worker protections. But I want to make sure, for legislative intent, that we're clear. Can you elaborate on your intent for 10100062.docx 72  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 organized labor's roll in the cannabis industry? My time is ticking."

"Sorry. So, the intention is that there's five points associated with having a labor peace agreement. And I think the words you used about the importance of the worker protections and good paying jobs is really what was in my heart when including that."

"On page 13 of the Bill, it is your belief, Representative, that that language will guarantee good well-paying union jobs in this industry. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"If the efforts to achieve social equity that's been discussed here today are unsuccessful, will there be any remedy to ensure us an avenue towards social equity?"

"Yes. After the issuance of licenses to current medical dispensaries in January 2020 and the first issuance of licenses to new market entrance in July 2020, the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer will conduct a disparity study of the market. The study will be completed by March 1, 2021."

"What is the purpose, Kelly, of the disparity study? Why did you include that in the Bill?"

"The disparity study will examine the Social Equity Applicant Program and other measures intended to infuse new entrance into the market. It will determine how many businesses could have applied to be Social Equity Applicants and would have been qualified to participate in the adult- use cannabis industry. It will then look at how many of the licenses were awarded to Social Equity Applicants. The study 10100062.docx 73  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 will then compare whether that number matches the participation level that you would expect to see given the number of available businesses in the market."

"Will the disparity study examine the medical market as well?"

"Yes."

"Will the disparity study also look at how many businesses are owned by minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities?"

"Yes."

"What will the state do if there is a disparity in the number of businesses owned by Social Equity Applicants or the number of businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, or people with disabilities?"

"The licensing agencies have the authority to modify their application processes and scoring criteria to address any disparities that are identified."

"Thank you, Representative. To the Bill. I want to commend the Sponsor for her years of labor on this issue. I've been here seven years and I know she's been passionate about this the entire time I've been here. I want to thank her for collaborating with Black Caucus Members, Leader Jehan Gordon- Booth, and Representative Sonya Harper, Senator Kim Lightford, and Senator Toi Hutchinson. They worked extremely hard to put this Bill together. The Social Equity Applicant's piece in this Bill, that is extremely strong, Ladies and Gentlemen. The criminal history relief program is extremely strong. The opportunity for black and brown ownership is real and the opportunity for good, well-paying union jobs is solid. 10100062.docx 74  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 I don't know how anyone could be against that. I urge a 'yes' vote on this very important economic development Bill in the State of Illinois. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"Members, we still have many people seeking recognition on this measure. Going forward, we will no longer yield time. You need to fit it into a five minute time period. Representative Villa will be recognized. Representative Villa for five minutes."

"Thank you. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Are there studies that cannabis causes psychosis or is there a correlation due to the self-medication to calm the symptoms of psychosis?"

"Studies that I have seen have explicitly stated that there is no evidence of causation."

"Currently, is medical marijuana prescribed for PTSD?"

"PTSD is one of the allowable conditions, yes."

"To the Bill. We must stop stigmatizing people with mental health issues. We need to stop criminalizing people who are self-medicating due to their symptoms. We need to increase mental health services, which is addressed in this Bill. I strongly urge an 'aye' vote."

"Chair recognizes Representative Frese for five minutes."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Yes."

"Yes. So, there's funding to the AG, the AG Equal Justice Grant, to deal with these civil… the legal aid component of it, grants to the Illinois courts, and grants to local State's Attorneys.

"The clerks? Yes."

"Yes, it does include the clerks. We are very mindful of the… intensity of the labor involved. We want to make sure that we're… that we're taking care of that."

"Yes, law enforcement has money as well."

"Everyone who is involved has the ability to recoup their costs."

"Make what ruling?"

"In the automatic ones, the judge… it's brought before a judge, yes. And then the other layers, the individuals go before a judge."

"Yes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Bennett for five minutes."

"Chair recognizes… excuse me. Mr. Clerk, Rules Reports."

"Chair recognizes Representative Reick for five minutes."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"So, the emergency rule making is related only to things that are time sensitive, such as the pieces that have to be put in place before January 1."

"Yes."

"Final sentence, Representative."

"Chair recognizes Representative Tarver."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll try to be brief as possible. You know, this is not about criminal justice reform at all. And anybody who says that it is a liar. I'll tell him or her to their face. About criminal justice reform, you don't have to have revenue tied to it. If the administration of this Body was serious about criminal justice reform, they're a lot of Bills that could have passed this Session that have not, related to housing and other things. This is about money, period. I find it offensive, absolutely offensive that in light of all that law enforcement has done and been the front line of on the war on drugs, which is really a war on black people, brown as well, but primarily black people, to come in and then say they want eight percent premium off the top. Nothing to tell us how much money they need relative to implement this program, but instead there's a 100 million in revenue, we want $8 million; a billion, we want $80 million in discretionary funds. It's absolutely offensive. The only people that benefit in these situations are white people, primarily rich ones. Let me be very clear about that. With the war on drugs, black people went to prison primarily. And you know who benefited from that? White people in rural communities. I know, I visit prisons. That's where my cousins and friends are often. That's who benefits. And then now, criminal justice reform has been held up for long enough for 10100062.docx 83  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 primarily rich white people to have a market to invest in and now all of a sudden it's okay. Now it's okay to expunge records. And not enough, by the way, at all. But now there's a market, now it's okay. That's a problem. That's offensive to me as a black man on the South Side of Chicago, quite frankly where I was born and raised. I've seen what this has done to our communities. I have no real faith in trailer Bills and things like that to make this program better. I have faith in Christian Mitchell, quite honestly, another black man, who gave me his word that we will work on this stuff going forward. The reality of it is, this is absolutely a travesty to suggest that we truly care about criminal justice reform when we've had 50 damn years to work on the issue. Nobody… nobody saw fit to do it. And then all of a sudden when there's an opportunity to make money from the same things that decimated our communities, all of the sudden it's about criminal justice reform. It's offensive and I mean, quite frankly, if it were not for you, Christian, I promise you, I would have no support for this Bill."

"Chair recognizes Representative Robinson."

"Will the Speaker… excuse me, will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative Evans, I, too, had reservations as much as I love and respect Representative Kelly Cassidy and Leader Booth and wanting to support our Governor, who is putting Illinois back on the right track after four embarrassing and devastating years. Friends, when I ran for office, it was because of what I have seen right outside of my home and my business at 51st and Indiana that has been ravaged by the war 10100062.docx 84  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 on drugs. There are, sadly, many other neighborhoods in my district like 51st and Indiana. I personally cannot leave my home or business without somebody asking me for a job. I always ask them for their story and their story generally is about a drug conviction and how this is a barrier for getting a job to take care of their family. And they go on to say that they don't want to be on the streets in order to survive. Well, I'm honored that we, in this Body today, are making a first step, just a first, to remove this barrier. I want to thank my dear friend, Kelly Cassidy, for all her blood, sweat, and tears on this Bill. I want to thank Representative Sonya Harper, who also has spent countless hours working on this Bill to make sure that brown and black people have shown up in this Bill. I also want to thank Leader Booth for bringing me to the table to make sure, as a freshman Legislator, that we make sure that true equity is in this Bill. Lastly, I would like to thank Leader Lilly and the Black Caucus for pushing the Governor and his staff to do more. Friends, our work is not done. Representative Cassidy, Governor Pritzker, I look forward to continuing to make sure we not only create jobs, but we create business owners who, like me, will hire within their own communities to be able to bring back resources and wealth to their communities. I look forward to not only funding our neighborhood schools and our community organizations, this, my friends, will stem the violence that we are seeing every single day in the City of Chicago, where I am so honored to represent. I ask not only for this Body to vote 'yes', but we continue to fight for communities like 10100062.docx 85  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 mine across this great State of Illinois that have, again, been ravaged by the war on drugs."

"Chair recognizes Representative Morrison."

"Chair recognizes Representative Bryant for five minutes."

"Thank you."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Eight, actually."

"That's up to them. It's up to the community colleges to choose to engage… between… the program itself is administered by Community College Board and the Department of Ag, but they will volunteer to participate."

"That'll happen in Rules through an application process, yeah."

"So, one of the things that Rules has to consider is the geographic diversity of the applicants. I will tell for my… again from me, as someone who works with you regularly, I will tell you that the way that the industry is spread across the state, I believe the job pipeline should be as well."

"We do specifically allow students at 18 to participate but we also explicitly require, just as we do within the facilities themselves in terms of seed to sale tracking and weighing waste, every bit of product that is created within the community college program must be destroyed within… approval and oversight by the department. So that… there would be… they would have no access to take product. And again, this is up the community colleges to choose to participate in."

"I believe the school could decide to do that, yes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Swanson."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"The anticipated revenue in this first year is 58 million. We anticipate over the course of about 5 years getting to approximately 500 million.

"In a mature marketplace."

"They tend to have a lower population but a higher use rate. We've looked at population and usage rates in every state to do these projections."

"Which one?"

"Fifty eight to just north of five hundred."

"That's… yes."

"That would be an estimate, but yes."

"Your verification request is acknowledged. Are you finished speaking?"

"All right. Members, Representative Swanson has requested a verification. At the appropriate time, please be at your seat to vote your switch. Chair recognizes Representative Wehrli for five minutes."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"I don't know that the FDA has a position on cannabis."

"It is a Schedule I narcotic."

"Heroin. Meth. Some pretty bad stuff."

"Internationally, there's a great deal of research."

"Domestically, there's an FDA approved drug derived from cannabis."

"I'm trying to give you the information."

"Yes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Wheeler for five minutes."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"I'm not going to say that it's not addictive but it is… there is dispute about that. Quite frankly, I believe that anything is addictive. I tend to have a lot of problems giving up chocolate, frankly."

"It's far less addictive than alcohol, or tobacco, or heroin, of course." 10100062.docx 96  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Yes."

"It… sorry, I was trying to check on a status of another Bill that we were actually going parallel with. Because there's… a Bill was moving through very quickly, and I honestly haven't kept up with it, to make those alcohol changes have a nexus with driving. And that's why our Bill has a nexus with driving for that suspension."

"Right, because it was anticipated and I believe it has advanced that the… that there's going to be a requirement of a nexus with driving for the alcohol as well. So, we did not want to have a disparate impact." 10100062.docx 97  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"The intent was for them to be aligned, yes."

"And when you brought that up, that's why that was… we were mindful of that as we approached this."

"Yes."

"I know of Carol Stream and I got a text message during debate that Chicago is as well but I don’t have that…"

"Other than… coming from a reliable source, other than that, I can't verify that."

"Chair recognizes Representative Miller for five minutes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Flowers for five minutes."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I've lived through the ordeals of the war on African American families. I've lived through the ordeals on the war on poverty. And I also live through the war… the so-called war on drugs, and it's been hell and none of it worked. That reset button is broken. The fact of the matter is… the fact of the matter is nothing in this Bill is addressing the harm that's been done to our community. The harm that will never be able to be fixed because we still lack access to education because of the war on drugs, because of the crime in the background. And everybody knew that the war on drugs was purposely done to get the outcome in which it got, in order so other people can create jobs for themselves. They made the prison system longer, bigger, and more devastating to our community. African American families have been broken and will never be restored. There's nothing in this legislation that's going to 10100062.docx 101  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 do anything for our community but what it has always done off the backs of poor people. You're going to make rich people richer. One of my colleagues spoke and said something about what we did in regards to medical marijuana. He said we did it right. He said we did it right with medical marijuana, and I'll be doggone if he wasn't telling the truth. Because by the standards in which this Bill is going to follow, he did do it right. There's not one African American that have any ownership and will ever have any ownership in the medical marijuana business. And guess what? It's not gonna happen here. Oh yeah, we're going to always be, you know, picking the cotton… I mean picking the marijuana, whatever you do. Or the low wage jobs. That will always be there. But there will be no betterment of our community. If you wanted to do something… because when my colleague came to my community I told her exactly how I felt. I felt that… that the whole discussion about this Bill was very… I said to you that you were acting very paternalistic over us. That you decided what was best. You decided what programs was going to be in place. You decided what was going to be the social impact. You decided how much was going to go to schools, how much was going to go to health care. There was no conversation. There was no conversation at all with anyone in my community. So, when I look at this Bill, again, I looked at the amount of monies that's going to be going to education. It says two percent will go for DHS… to DHS. Two percent of the money will go to DHS. It has to go to DHS first and then it'll go for public education. So that'll be one percent, I guess. And another one percent, maybe, for the awareness of public health 10100062.docx 102  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 and safety. Only two percent? And it's going to go through DHS, and then to public education, and then to public safety? Give me a break. And then when I look at the 25 percent, it's going to go to the Criminal Justice Project Funds to restore, and revest, and renew program. What… restore what? Can you give my grandparents their house back? Can you give my community their jobs back? Can you give the mothers their families back? Their dignity? Can you do that? What do you mean? How is this agency… the purpose of the criminal justice information project fund, the agency… the purpose of… I see just agency… is to reduce terrorism. How is this agency… it's not gonna… why is it that my community have to be treated any differently? When the Italians was having their fights… for some reason now most of them have restaurants, talking about you, DeLuca. I love you, man. And so, the Italians wasn't… they were given businesses…"

"Representative Flowers, can you please make your final comment?"

"That's exactly what we need. We need the opportunity to create jobs. We don't want you or your board to give us anything, Representative. If you get out of our way and get this X off our backs, like the law says it should be for expungement, it already… these kids should not have this X on their backs because of that. But if you get out of our way, allow us the same opportunity to go to school, to get an education, we can do the same things that any other community has done. If you keep the drugs out of our community. If you keep the crime out of our community. If you stop bringing your illicit drugs in our community, all of this stuff never 10100062.docx 103  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 would have happened. So my point to you, and again the ACLU, when it comes to legalizing weed, the economic justice for the communities of color must be the guiding principal. And the guiding principal must be that we have to allow these people with criminal records to have it cleared. We must… I don't mind this legislation being decriminalized, but the fact of the matter is, we are still being used. Our community is still being used for people to make a profit, and to get rich, and give nothing back to the community. I urge a 'no' vote. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Buckner for five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"So, let's start off talking about the numbers, right. Legalized cannabis has, in short order, created a multi- billion dollar industry. It's created tens of thousands of small businesses who employ hundreds of thousands of people. California boasted nearly $3 million… $3 billion, sorry, in sales in their first year of full legalization. Despite all of these opportunities in the legal cannabis space, there is… there is, however, still a very high barrier to entry for minorities. America's war against drugs created policies that over criminalized cannabis possession and disproportionately affected black and brown communities and it wiped out generations. Statistics suggest, that nationwide, no more than one percent of businesses in the legalized marijuana space are black owned. Even with the decriminalization of cannabis, black people are almost four times more likely to 10100062.docx 104  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 be arrested for marijuana possession than their white counterparts, even though usage is statistically even. Hundreds of thousands of black people have records for cannabis offenses and sometimes even incur felonies that prevent gainful employment while cannabis companies now are gearing up to rake in millions of dollars. I applaud the effort on expungements, because to me, these are not just numbers, these are people. These are my friends, my family, my neighbors, and if not for the grace of God, very easily could be me. We owe it to provide some restorative justice to communities that deserve it. Communities who have been disproportionally effected by draconian drug policies aimed directly at them. The unjust 100 to 1 powder cocaine to crack sentencing disparity is one that comes to mind. We keep using the word prohibition. It's only prohibition in certain communities. In my community, it's criminalization. That criminalization legitimized disinvestment and generations suffered. I'm from the South Side of Chicago and, specifically, from an area that’s known as the Wild 100s, right. And there's a thing, a phrase, that we say where I'm from, 'God made the hundreds, man made it wild.' Now, it used to be just a phrase but it's… it’s a truism, it’s a real thing. Man made it wild by flooding it with drugs and by locking people up for it, by creating a situation of despair and not fixing what had been broken. I welcome many of my colleagues on either side of the aisle who don’t have firsthand knowledge of what the war on drugs really, really looks like to come home with me and see it for yourself. The things that many see only on television, I could look out my 10100062.docx 105  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 window and see every day. I'm ashamed that it seems that only once the realization that cannabis can make a lot of people very rich, that we concern ourselves with the restoration of communities. And only when we figured out that there was money involved in this, that we become concerned with righting the wrongs of the past. I have sat in committees in this very Body where expungement language has come up in Bills and had been voted down without the bat of an eye. I never thought I would be quoting Lauryn Hill on the floor of the General Assembly but she says, 'It's funny how money changes situations.' That’s where we are today. Is it that magically on January 1, 2020 that marijuana is no longer bad? No. It wasn’t bad when black folks, brown folks, and poor folks started going to jail for it, but it served a different purpose. We have to do better. I'm reminded of something I was told a long time ago. If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, that’s not progress. If you pull it out all the way, that’s still not progress. Progress comes only from healing the wound and can never happen if don't even admit that the knife is there in the first place. I would hope that this legislation realizes that the knife is there. I don’t oppose legalization and I believe the state's economy can greatly benefit from such. But it is incumbent upon us in this chamber to do it the right way. I am not urging a 'yes' or a 'no' vote, I'm urging that we all vote with a conscious of a clear context. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Hammond for five minutes."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative, obviously, you've… we've been friends for a while. You've watched me work on this for quite some time, and so you know I didn't enter into this process blindly at all. What we have done in crafting this legislation is attempt to sort out and make appropriate use of the emergency rule making provisions while not over-using them and respecting the space of JCAR to do the rule-making that there is sufficient time to accomplish. This is only applicable to the things that are time sensitive, as I believe is appropriate. And just as we did with the medical."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"The revenue projections were based on looking at usage rates and population rates in other states with adult-use markets. And pretty much all of them have similar opportunities for opt out, so I think that levels it. Given that, you know, you can travel to a neighboring community to make those purchases, I think the purchase rates would be level."

"I don't have an opinion on that. I wasn’t here when the video gaming Bill was debated, so I don’t really know the nuances of how that came to be."

"Chair recognizes Representative Thapedi."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Representative Cassidy, if I understood correctly, there is no disparity study that currently exists, correct?"

"There is nothing current. We intend… we've written into the legislation…" 10100062.docx 108  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"My question is, today, there is no disparity study, right?

"Right."

"Okay. 'Cause I'm on the… I'm on a timer. So, cannabis was prohibited in Illinois in or about 1931, right?"

"Okay."

"Yes?"

"I don’t know the date but, yes, for when Illinois did it."

"And that prohibition was just after they created in the Federal Government a Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930, right?"

"Okay."

"Is that a yes?"

"I don’t have the materials in front of me that you have, so I'm going to take your word for it."

"All right. And then in October of '37, Congress affected the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, correct?"

"Again, I don’t have the materials in front of me that you have, so I am going to take your word for it. And I trust you on this because you’ve done your work."

"And then at that point, the assaults on the disproportionately impacted communities affectively began, correct?"

"I would agree."

"And then in 1951, the Boggs Act was enacted which established a mandatory minimum of 2 to 10 years in the penitentiary and a fine of up to $20 thousand for a first offense for marijuana possession, correct?" 10100062.docx 109  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Again, I do not have the materials in front of me but I do believe you and trust you with your research."

"And then in 1956, the Narcotic Control Act was passed which increased penalties and introduced the death penalty, correct?"

"I trust your research."

"And then in 1970, the Control Substance Act was enacted with the support of Nixon combining all the previous Acts into one piece of legislation, correct?"

"Again, I trust your research."

"And at that time, there were five categories for drugs, and cannabis was deemed to be a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that it was a drug that had quote, 'no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States', correct?"

"Yes."

"And as we sit here today, cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug, correct?"

"Yes."

"And other Schedule 1 drugs are heroin, LSD, ecstasy, MD, MA, correct?"

"Yes."

"Does cannabis have quote, 'any currently accepted medical uses in the treatment in the United States?'"

"There are significant medical authorities that would say yes."

"Then why is it still a Schedule 1 drug?"

"The FDA approved an epilepsy drug specific… specifically."

"Then why is it still a Schedule 1 drug?" 10100062.docx 110  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"They're still doing research, and then I am not a Member of Congress."

"So then in the '80s, we saw the frying pan and the egg and a significant increase in incarcerations for non-violent drug crimes, correct?"

"Yes."

"In fact, in 1986, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act was enacted which established more mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offenses, correct?"

"Yes."

"For example, it allocated longer prison sentences for offenses dealing with crack cocaine and shorter sentences for offenses dealing with powder cocaine, correct?"

"Yes."

"And people from disproportionately impacted communities were targeted and arrested on suspension of drug possession at higher rates than people not from those communities, correct?"

"Yes."

"And then that then led to a disproportionate incarceration rate between people from these targeted communities and those people not from those communities, correct?"

"Yes."

"In 2013, and I heard one of my colleagues mention some of these statistics, a study was done by the ACLU that found that a person who looks like me is more than three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than to my 10100062.docx 111  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 colleagues to my immediate left and to my immediate right, correct?"

"Actually, I was referring to a later one but I'm familiar with that one as well."

"All right, fair enough. Now, the social equity program in Article 7 of the Bill is designed to achieve what purpose for the people of the State of Illinois?"

"The disparity study will examine the Social Equity Applicant Program and other measures intended to infuse new entrance into the market. It will determine how many businesses could have applied to be Social Equity Applicants and would have been qualified to participate in the adult- use cannabis industry."

"But at the end of the day, what is the purpose of that social equity component of the Bill? Why is it there? Why is it important?"

"As we create a new industry where individuals and businesses can profit from the sale of cannabis, we recognize that individuals in certain communities have faced higher levels of arrest and incarceration for violating the prohibition of the sale and possession of cannabis. The Social Equity Applicant Program reconciles this reality by giving it additional points to individuals who have been personally impacted by enforcement of cannabis related laws or who come from communities that have been negatively affected by high enforcement of cannabis related laws."

"I've got… I've got eight seconds. I've got seven seconds. I've got six seconds. Is it narrowly tailored to achieve the purpose…" 10100062.docx 112  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Representative, can you please make your final remark?"

"Did she hear my question?"

"I think she answered it."

"I didn't hear her. I think we got cut off."

"Did you ask is it narrowly tailored to achieve your goals? Is that what you said?"

"Well, just to back up, that I was asking about the purpose of Article 7 and you were going through what you believe the purpose was. And then my last question was, was whether or not the Bill is narrowly tailored to achieve the purpose that you were mentioning?"

"I'm not an attorney. I'm afraid I don't know how to define narrowly tailored."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure I don't know how to define narrowly tailored."

"Well, I don’t want to quarrel with you. I just simply was trying to establish…"

"That sounds like a term of art that I'm not familiar. I'm sorry, I'm just unfamiliar with that term."

"Well, I think that you heard the Lady from DuPage's comments and if you don't feel comfortable answering them on the floor then fair enough. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"Chair recognizes Representative Ugaste."

"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."

"Well, that’s going to grow year on year. In the first… I'm not great at math on the fly here but…"

"It is 20 percent."

"Of… in the first year it's 50… 57-58 million. It's about $11 million in the first year which only represents 6 months. It's really half a year of revenue."

"Members, Batinick will be our final speaker. Representative Batinick is recognized for five minutes." 10100062.docx 115  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Representative Cassidy to close."

"Thank you for this amazing debate. I came into this aware of the need for a trailer Bill. Whenever you do anything this big, there are going to be… there's going be clean-up required. I want to acknowledge the folks that have asked about specific things. And I want to promise all of you that I don't anticipate that my pace of work is going to slow much as we move into the summer. So, I am open to your input and suggestions. I intend to engage in discussions over the summer on these issues, including finding ways to address some of the local concerns around home-grow while acknowledging concerns about privacy that were raised during those negotiations, acknowledge… addressing some drafting errors that we've identified. The issue that Representative Stuart raised about the county taxes. So, I am here for your ideas and I welcome them. I want to thank everyone today for your engagement in this debate. I want to apologize to those who were not able to speak. I certainly wanted to hear what you had to say. To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, proponents and opponents alike, I thank you because your input has made this a better Bill. To my sisters, Heather Steans, Toi Hutchinson, Jehan Gordon-Booth, to Jason Barickman, Celina Villanueva, and Dave Welter, who really all did the Yeoman's work of crafting this, thank you for sticking with 10100062.docx 117  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 it for this long, hard work, the tough conversations and the fun and the friendship. To State's Attorney Kim Foxx, thank you for leading the way. I have deep gratitude for your approach to this work and I look forward to long partnership with you on this. To Rose Ashby, who has worked with Heather and me, the herder of the cannabis cats, bless you, bless you, bless you. You've kept us organized and sane. The rest of our staff, Lea and Jewel and everyone, amazing. Our staff here on the floor, Kit Walsh and Marishonta Wilkerson, you guys have pulled some serious all-nighters and I thank you. Shonta, is this your last Bill with us? Wow. So, I just want to pause for a second and thank you, Shonta, for how well you take care of all of us. To the folks at the Marijuana Policy Project and especially Chris Lindsey, your expertise was invaluable. Governor Pritzker and the team, especially Christian Mitchell, who I miss here in this chamber, and Marty Torres. Governor, you came along at the perfect time. You grabbed an ore and you helped us row to shore and I thank you for that. To the activists and advocates who haven't seen exactly what they want from this, today is a beginning. We've said that multiple times. To my colleagues and to the folks who have interest in this issue, this is a beginning. It's the beginning of the end of the war on drugs. The beginning of us finally having rational conversations about cannabis and of working together to improve this policy. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Members, verification has been requested by Representative Swanson. Please be available at your chair to vote your switch. The question is, 'Shall the House concur in 10100062.docx 118  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 1438?' This is final action. All those in favor signify by voting 'aye'; all opposed by voting 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 66 voting 'yes', 47 voting 'no', and 2 voting 'present'… Representative Swanson. Mr. Clerk, please read those voting in the affirmative."

"Mr. Clerk, Representative Swanson would like to withdraw his verification request. And on that, there are 66 voting in 'favor', 46 voting 'opposed', 2 voting 'present'. And on this question, the House does concur with Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 1438. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. The Clerk is in receipt of a Motion in Writing to waive the posting requirements for a Resolution. Leader Manley on the Motion." 10100062.docx 119  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Speaker, I move that the posting requirements be waived so that HR433 can be heard in the Appropriations – Human Services Committee."

"Leader Manley has moved to waive the posting requirements. All those in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the posting requirements are waived. On page 4 of the Calendar, under Senate Bills on Third Reading, we have Senate Bill 1932, offered by Representative Carroll. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill. Mr. Clerk, please move this Bill back to the Order of Second Reading and read the Bill."

"Representative Carroll on Floor Amendment #4."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very tough act to follow up. I'll be very quick. House Amendment #4 clears up the language that the Minority Leaders from both chambers will be able to make appointments to the task force."

"Gentlemen moves for the adoption of Floor Amendment #4 to Senate Bill 1932. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Mr. Clerk."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 1932." 10100062.docx 120  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Representative Carroll."

"Yes, thank you. Yesterday, we started discussing this Bill. This is creating a Property Tax Task Force. I heard the other side of the aisle, I made the change that they asked for. And I ask for an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"Representative Batinick is recognized."

"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."

"Representative Batinick…"

"Representative McDermed is recognized. Would you like to speak on Senate Bill 1932, Representative?"

"Please proceed."

"Chair recognizes Representative Skillicorn."

"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."

"Representative Carroll to close."

"First of all, I want to thank Representative McDermed. I know yesterday you and I had a little bit of a heated exchange. I appreciate your kind words and I look forward to us having a strong working relationship moving forward. And thanking my colleagues for their kind words on the other side. And I hope for an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 1932 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 113 voting in 'favor', 0 voting 'opposed', 0 10100062.docx 122  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 voting 'present', Senate Bill 1932, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Ammons, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed, Representative."

"It is with great disappointment that I stand in this chamber being denied the right to speak to the devastation that has impacted our community for generations. I grew up in the big City of Joliet, where Stateville Prison is located, and have watched generations of black men be locked up for the possession of drugs in this country. I listened to my colleague Thapedi lay out very clearly the intentional destruction of black communities across this country but, specifically, in the State of Illinois. And I stand here, today, having been denied the right to speak on the most important legislation that will impact our communities in my lifetime, and I am offended by that denial. Our community has suffered untold harm and many devastations that we cannot just wipe over because we need revenue in the State of Illinois. I agree with my colleagues on the right and the left that this legislation will have unintended consequences. Will those consequences remedy the 40 to 50 years of drug devastation that has destroyed the communities of East St. Louis, Danville, Joliet, the South and West Sides of Chicago? For generations, we have had to wait for our emancipation. For generations, we've been denied access to jobs, and education, and training, and opportunity. For generations, our children have looked at us as if we have not done our due 10100062.docx 123  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 diligence. And today, the very denial of my right to stand before this Body and express the harm and devastation that we've experienced. This law will not legalize drugs for our communities. This legislation will still see devastation on the behalf of those who are stopped by the police as a result. We are calling for international declaration for the renewal of people of African descent in this state from this day forward. We deserve justice and access to justice in every single way. We are calling on this Governor to make sure that he, not only enforces equality and justice as it pertains to this legislation, but everything that goes forward. It is not good enough that we simply expunge records for those of low level marijuana possession. That is not good enough. That young black men and women have to walk around and be saddled, be saddled with the results of this legislation going forward. We know that the people who are going to benefit from this are already benefiting. They're already benefiting economically. We know that black communities from the top to the bottom of this state are struggling economically and this does nothing to solve that problem. And so, I call on colleagues to look at this issue as a justice issue and not a revenue one. We understand that the state is strapped for cash, but it is certainly not because black communities have stolen those dollars. We have been denied equal justice under the law and we have been stopped at three to four times higher rates than any other community. And we call on justice today for our communities. And this measure must be looked at as simply a beginning and not an end. We will not stop fighting for our communities from this day forward. And we call on the 10100062.docx 124  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 Democratic Party of Illinois to stand with us to bring justice and equality to our communities and every single area of life. I refuse to vote on a Bill that would not allow to me to speak to it. And I hope that people of Illinois will do better for the communities who are suffering. Do not make them victims. Do not make them victims of our legislation. I want to acknowledge the profound need for justice for us. The untold suffering and evils that our people have suffered in this country from slavery, to emancipation, to post Jim Crow era, to drug loss, and to the drug war. We have suffered and we demand better from this institution. I hope that we are not doing the wrong thing by our community. I thank my colleague, Representative Thapedi, for putting on record the true reality of how we've gotten to this point. And I thank him for being a voice for us. I thank all of my new Members who stood on this issue. I do appreciate all the work that has been done to get us to this point, but I don't believe we've done all that we can do to bring about justice and equity. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak today. And thank you so much for all that you do. Thank you."

"Members, we have an announcement. Due to the volume of workload, the House will be in Session at least through Sunday, June 2. Today, the House intends to adjourn at a reasonable hour. Please note that per diems are not available beyond May 31. Please plan accordingly. Mr. Clerk, committee announcements."

"The House will recess to the call of the Chair."

"The House will come to order. Leader Willis in the Chair. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports, please."

"Thank you, Mr. Clerk. On page 5, Senate Bill 262, offered by Representative Harris. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Thank you. Representative Butler is recognized."

"Do you have a time, Sir?"

"One hour will be awarded to you, Sir. The Body will be at ease 'til the call of the Chair. Thank you."

"Members, on page 5 of the Calendar, under Senate Bills on Second Reading, we have Senate Bill 262, offered by Representative Harris. Mr. Clerk."

"Representative Harris on Floor Amendment #1."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. This is the proposed state budget for the State of Illinois. Could we adopt the Amendment and debate it on Third?"

"Gentlemen moves for the adoption of Floor Amendment #1 to Senate Bill 262. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Mr. Clerk."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, Senate Bill 262."

"Representative Harris."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. You know, we live in a great state, with great people, with great colleges and universities, with great business, industries, agriculture, and so many assets. Yet, we have found ourselves over the last couple years with credit downgrades, with financial problems, and with some fiscal instability. Tonight, working together, I believe we can take a large step forward into putting the State of Illinois back on a better track, stabilizing our finances, raising our credit ratings, investing in our families, in our communities, and in our businesses, in our cities and towns to bring back the full potential of the State of Illinois. Working in junction with each other, with our new Governor J.B. Pritzker, I'm proud to present a very comprehensive budget for the State of Illinois that it is fully balanced, 10100062.docx 128  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 that is fiscally responsible, that will pay down $1.4 billion in our backlogable of old bills, that fully pays our pension obligations, and sets us back on the road to a much better State of Illinois. Let me just name several of the items that appear in the Bill that is before you. And just to point out that there are other pieces of the budget, the BIMP and the revenue portions, none of those are in this Bill. This is just the appropriation. And what is included in this Bill is $375 million investment in our elementary and secondary education systems, done through the evidence-based model. We provide half a billion dollars in MAP Grants for our students to attend Illinois colleges and universities. It contains a comprehensive statewide violence prevention program, including youth jobs, youth job training, and career readiness programs, after school and summer youth programming, along with special new additions in mental health and substance abuse treatment to prevent young people from falling into the traps of addiction. This legislation also includes funding for a census grant program which will help all of us work to count every Illinoisan, in every part of this state, in every community and in particular, the harder to count populations, so that when the decennial census comes and goes, and we go into the legislative remapping process for seats in Washington, that we maintain our representation in Congress at the appropriate levels. And for the next 10 years, the federal programs we count on so much that are reliant on census data means we will get more funding if we completely count every Illinoisan. As well, we are committed to funding business development, to recruiting new 10100062.docx 129  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 industries to come to the State of Illinois to expand here and to make Illinois their home. We also work on trade development, and job preparedness, and workforce readiness programs. This legislation also includes funding for rural broadband. It contains money for the CCP Program, fully funded. This is the home services program for those who serve senior citizens. But it also contains cost containment language. We know that as the baby boom ages, the CCP Program is one of our fastest growing and more expensive programs. And we as a state must work to be sure that we prudently manage costs. And in this, and in many other programs, there are such cost management efforts. We invest over 700 million more dollars in behavioral health, with special attention to areas with high needs for substance abuse and mental health treatment. In addition, we provide funding for the community based services that serve in our neighborhoods in human services, mental health, substance abuse, developmental disability, disability and aging to help them raise their workers to meet the new minimum wage requirement. We are instituting a scholarship program for the dependents of veterans to be sure that those who have served our country that we honor their service and make sure that their children may also have a chance to prosper. I mentioned that we are paying down $1.4 billion of old bills in this budget. The $1.2 billion is a backlog bill borrowing where will go to the market and borrow money and pay down $1.2 billion of bills. But in addition to taking those old bills off of our recor… off of our books, the savings and interest… right now, we are paying 12 percent per year in interest… the savings of 10100062.docx 130  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 interest on that will be several hundred million dollars to the people of Illinois that we can invest in schools, colleges, or public safety. In addition, this budget shows an operating surplus of $200 million. And all of that surplus is being dedicated to the payment of backlog of old bills. We spend a good deal of money in this program investing in equity programs for job training, workforce development, community trauma reduction, and access to justice. We provide treatments for the first time to young people who are enrolled in the Medicaid program, who are in the autism spectrum by adding ADA therapy. In addition, many of you know who have nursing homes in your communities that due to problems over the last several years with the long term care determination and redetermination backlog, that we owe our nursing homes $450 million in unprocessed claims. This budget also includes a relief program for the nursing home industry to help them bridge the gap and continue to hire workers at the higher levels of RN and CNA to fully staff their homes. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm very happy to have worked with folks to, you know, come to this night. It's a good budget for the State of Illinois. It is balanced. It is fiscally responsible. We pay down our old bills. We meet our full pension obligations and we provide a great value and a great deal of service to those citizens we represent. I'd be happy to answer any questions."

"Members, pursuant to an agreement between the Speaker and the Minority Leader, we will hear from three Republicans and three Democrats. Leader Harris was the first Democrat. Chair recognizes Representative Demmer for five minutes." 10100062.docx 131  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019

"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."

"Yes, Sir. There is $1.2 billion in bond borrowing that will immediately put $1.2 billion back in the Illinois economy when those bills are suddenly paid. That will also save us about a day six or seven percent spread on the interest we're currently paying and reduce our borrowing costs."

"We are funding at the full actuarially certified level."

"Yes, it does, Sir."

"Chair recognizes Representative Davis for five minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. I can assure you that there was a lot of hard work that went into putting this budget together, a lot of difficult conversations. And while maybe this Bill doesn’t do absolutely everything that we want to do, truly, it's a move in the right direction for us. We can talk about how throughout the budget we have seen maybe some increases in some areas. Just like the previous speaker said about moving this state forward. And as the former Chair of the Appropriations Committee for K-12 education, you know, I am very pleased with the direction that this budget moves 10100062.docx 134  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 with regard to K-12 education. A couple years ago, we were able to put in place a brand new funding formula that does some very unique things relative to acknowledging that every school different… every school district is different and that each one needs its own resources in a way to determine what those resources are, to give it each an independent opportunity to grow and to allow young people to grow. And what it does is that it sets forth a path that says that the districts that need the resources the most get the money first. This budget continues that effort. And not only continues just the basic effort, which we are again meeting our constitutional… or excuse me, our legislative authority opportunity to increase not only… how can I say this? We are continuing what we passed relative to the level of funding that we have suggested that we need to at least contain the minimum base and we are increasing this year by an additional 25 million. Now, I think all of us would argue that we want to do more relative to school funding. And hopefully, this is the first step as we work through this budget with a new administration, a lot of new Members, and we gained the momentum, and we gained a confidence that we have the ability to move these items forwards. Who knows? Next year, we look forward to maybe trying to figure out how to increase that more, all working toward adequate funding for all of our schools. There is opportunities in this budget to increase the level of early childhood education so that, again, and we all agree, that if we're not touching the babies at their youngest stages, then in some respects we're doing ourselves a disservice. So, this budget meets those obligations. And 10100062.docx 135  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 then I have to say that, as Member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, again, maybe this doesn't do everything that we want it to, but a lot of the priorities that many of you have heard about, a lot of the prioritizes that we fight for hard on behalf of the communities that we represent, a lot of the prioritizes that we talk about on this floor on both sides of the aisle, a lot of those are being addressed in this budget, either maintaining and in some cases possibly increasing those opportunities. And the great thing about it is that when we increase opportunities that impact minority communities, well black and brown communities, in some respects the reality is that everyone across the state benefits from these opportunities. So again, this budget represents hard work on both sides of the aisle, a lot of conversation on both sides of the aisle, and an effort to try to make sure that we are falling to our priorities and making sure that we are funding those things that we deem and those things we know that are important to the best of our ability. Again, do we want to do more? We would love to be able to do more, but there are some realities. And we hope as we continue this process, as we continue to provide the opportunities for business growth and development in this budget, as well as addressing some of our ongoing challenges like our bills and pensions, as well. We know that as we continue to work collaboratively, that is what we indeed want to do. When we work collaboratively, there are a lot of things that we can indeed get done. So again, this budget represents all of that. And if I can just take another liberty with regard to higher education, another very important piece of the budget speaks 10100062.docx 136  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 to where we want to start sending and the direction we want our colleges and universities to go. Admittedly, we know we had some tough years prior to this. We had some difficult years. And while K-12 may have been able to survive, other parts of this budget did not survive. And we knew that we had a huge mountain climb to get to where we want to go, including not only K-12, but also in higher education as well. So, I applaud the efforts of all those Members who sat in those work group meetings, who discussed where we want to go on those priorities across the board. So, I'm proud to say that I'm going to vote this budget, and I encourage every Member to vote for this budget. And even if you don't, that's okay because we know that we are addressing priorities across the board that everyone in this chamber wants us to address. I certainly encourage everyone to vote 'yes'. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"Chair recognizes Representative Brady."

"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."

"Chair recognizes Representative Burke."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. I appreciate Leader Harris for bringing this budget tonight. It's well thought out. It pays down our bills. It makes pension payments. And it makes strategic investments in education through the evidence-based model, including monies for property tax relief fund to help more high tax districts lower their property taxes. We've made better investments in two areas that were neglected during our budget impasse, namely human services and higher education, including a $50 million increase to MAP funding and an increase to the AIM High scholarship program that's made available to Illinois students attending four year public universities. We've restored funding to our four year universities and to our community colleges. This is a good budget. We've included increases to human service agencies and programs that need a boost such as DCFS and some rate increases for organizations that take care of our elderly and disabled. I appreciate the hard work of the Appropriations Committees and the willingness of all the Members of those committees to sit through endless hours of meetings, going through that budget 10100062.docx 138  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 62nd Legislative Day 5/31/2019 line by line. We've crafted budgets that are fiscally responsible and fund our key priorities. Please vote 'yes'."

"Chair recognizes Leader Durkin."

"Leader Harris for a quick close."

"Vote 'yes'."

"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 262 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 83 voting 'in favor', 35 voting 'opposed', 0 voting 'present', Senate Bill 262, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."

"Leader Harris moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolutions are adopted. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Harris moves that the House stand adjourned until Saturday, June 1 at the hour of 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1 at the hour of 10 a.m. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."