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State legislators are reviewing a bill that would legalize any amount of cannabis and make certain marijuana-related convictions eligible for expunction.

Updates To The Criminal Identification Act

Illinois Senators voted 10-8 in favor of a bill that would amend the Criminal Identification Act. This bill would make it legal for residents to possess any amount of cannabis.

If it passes, dispensaries will be permitted to sell recreational marijuana products to residents, though there would be limits to how much a person could purchase during a single visit.

A Call For Expungement

Thousands of IL residents currently have convictions that are related to marijuana. If cannabis becomes legal, many of those records will be for activities that are no longer deemed crimes. To address this, the bill also calls for the automatic expunction of relevant offenses. It notes that the state police and law enforcement agencies shall expunge convictions that occurred on or after January 1, 1970 for possession or delivery but not the manufacture of cannabis.

Representative Mary Flowers spoke positively about this concept. She said: “It’s been a burden on brown and Black families for over 50 years, this artificial war perpetrated on our community for the benefit of others.”

Not everyone is in favor of the new expunction laws. Dissent over this bill was demonstrated by the close vote in the Senate. Some Senators had mixed emotions about the bill and refrained from voting.

What Employers Should Know

The bill is now in the hands of the Illinois House of Representatives. If it is approved and signed into law, the state will implement a system for expunging marijuana-related offenses. When a record is expunged, it can no longer be reviewed or considered by organizations that are hiring, renting property or making other decisions about consumers. Individuals who have criminal records sealed may legally say they do not have a conviction.

Numerous studies have shown that individuals who have any type of criminal record often have a difficult time finding employment, credit, housing and other necessities. This bill could give Illinois resident more opportunities, help reduce the rate of recidivism and generate a larger pool of candidates for businesses that are trying to fill job openings. The team at Backgrounds Online will keep an eye on the progress of this bill.

Running Background Checks

Whether this or any other Second Chance laws become active, employers in Illinois and across the country are still encouraged to run comprehensive background checks. These reports show hiring managers if candidates have violent or other serious criminal records that might indicate they pose an undue risk to a business, staff or the public. They also help hiring managers make informed decisions, identify people who are likely to succeed and build strong teams.

If you need background checks for your organization, please contact us. Our experienced team can help you customize screening packages and answer all your questions about background checks. We are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.