This past week, the Illinois legislature approved legislation to legalize cannabis. Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign the legislation and, if signed, it will take effect January 1, 2020.

Not only is Illinois one of the larger states to legalize, it is the first state to legalize marijuana through legislative action rather than voter initiative. In addition, the legislation was approved with bipartisan support.

With every state that legalizes, and Illinois makes eleven, cannabis carries less stigma and it becomes more likely that federal legalization will follow.