Barickman: Safeguards in place for recreational marijuana

Posted on July 1, 2019

*Sen. Jason Barickman told WJBC’s Todd Wineburner the new recreational marijuana law provides some safeguards for Illinois residents. (WJBC File Photo)*

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Now that recreational marijuana will become legal in Illinois a local lawmaker feels measures have been taken to keep Illinois residents safe.

The new law allows residents 21 and older to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate and edibles with up to 500 milligrams of THC.

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) told WJBC’s Todd Wineburner while the passage of recreational weed seemed inevitable, it was important to make sure the bill had proper safeguards in place.

“I was an advocate that we needed protections for our youth and from an individual user who puts the public at risk by driving or otherwise and I feel those protections are in place,” said Barickman.

The law creates a special task force to look at methods like roadside swabs to test drivers for pot impairment.

Barickman added there are also workplace protections for employers to make sure employees don’t show up to work impaired.

Recreational weed becomes legal Jan. 1.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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