There are two ways to start off the new year when you are the Governor of a US state with legalized cannabis: You can expunge 500,000 arrest records for cannabis charges, or you can not.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a name you should try to pronounce if you’re good at pronouncing names, chose the former on January 1.

From ABC Ch. 7 Illinois:

In the final hours of 2020, Gov. JB Pritzker announced that about a half million marijuana convictions have been pardoned or wiped from the records in Illinois.

That forgiveness is part of the state law that legalized pot sales last year.

Over 9,200 low-level marijuana convictions have been pardoned.

More than 490,000 marijuana-related convictions are now removed from arrest records.

Now that’s progress! It continued:

“Statewide, Illinoisans hold hundreds of thousands low-level cannabis-related records, a burden disproportionately shouldered by communities of color,” Pritzker said. “We will never be able to fully remedy the depth of that damage. But we can govern with the courage to admit the mistakes of our past-and the decency to set a better path forward. I applaud the Prisoner Review Board, the Illinois State Police, and our partners across the state for their extraordinary efforts that allowed these pardons and expungements to become a reality.”

The CRTA requires cannabis-related arrest records created between 2013 and 2019 be expunged by Jan. 1, 2021, a total of 47,000 records, Pritzker’s office said Thursday.

Which is fantastic news all in all. Canna Provisions is proud to back, both in philosophy and practice, restorative social justice initiatives for anyone currently or previously suffering at the hands of the failed and racist US War on Drugs.

With Illinois being a key state in the ongoing national cannabis legalization front, this kind of news gives us hope for the months and years ahead in legal cannabis.

Speaking of legal cannabis…

IT’S 2021! Check out our online menus at our stores for the marijuana flower, prerolls, edibles, topicals, concentrates, and other goodies to help deal with the stress, anxiety, physical or existential pain that 2020 has brought upon you.

About Canna Provisions

Canna Provisions is the next generation of cannabis dispensary focusing on a unique and thoughtful customer experience. We are here to guide you and towards the right provisions to fit your lifestyle, and provide knowledgeable support every step of the way. Founded by established industry pioneers with extensive cultivation, regulation and consumer sales experience, Canna Provisions stores provide a broad range of top-grade craft cannabis products that are locally sourced and thoughtfully produced. Life is a journey. No matter the path, trust Canna Provisions to better your journey. To learn more, visit CannaProvisionsGroup.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.