Barickman: Safeguards in Place for Recreational Marijuana

By Neil Doyle

As Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the recreational marijuana bill last week, a local lawmaker feels measures have been taken to keep Illinois residents safe.

The law goes into effect Jan. 1 and allows Illinois 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.

Senator Jason Barickman told WJEZ’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 need 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 new 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 in place for employers to make sure employees don’t show up to work impaired.