Many states are working towards legalizing recreational cannabis use, but what stands out about Illinois’ recent move is how progressive the changes are.

Lawmakers in several states, particularly New York and New Jersey, are working towards legalizing cannabis for recreational use. The problem is that both states are finding the legislative end of cannabis legalization to be quite difficult, even though the states have been trying to figure it out for a long time now. “We were proud to advocate for this important change and applaud Illinois leaders for their attention to a reform that ensures fairness and safety for communities that bore the disproportionate brunt of the drug war,” said Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice Robert Brooks.

Despite the legal, economic, and health-related obstacles to recreational cannabis legalization across the US, Illinois has pushed forward in a way that breaks with the current nationwide trend. The situation in other states would have you believe that legislating changes to current Cannabis laws is an impossible task. Illinois, however, has managed to pass recreational cannabis legalization in the most progressive fashion seen in the US so far. Adults aged 21 or older may now purchase cannabis through retail outlets in Illinois. The state also pushed through with another seemingly impossible task: fully pardoning previous offenders. Illinois’ plan is set to clear the criminal records of 770,000 people convicted of minor cannabis-related offences. The states’ plan also provides new opportunities for minorities living in certain areas to capitalize on the new, legal cannabis market.