Illinois Marijuana Laws: Is Marijuana Legal in Illinois?
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2024
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Published Legal Expert
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Possession of marijuana is illegal in Illinois. A state bill to legalize medical marijuana passed in the Illinois Senate in May of 2009, but the bill is not expected to pass in the House by the end of 2010 (the deadline before it will need to be reapproved in the Senate). Note that in Illinois statutes, marijuana is referred to as cannabis or “marihuana.”
What are the Penalties for the Possession of Marijuana in Illinois?
If you are arrested for charges relating to possession of marijuana in Illinois, the penalties you face will depend on both the amount of marijuana you possessed and on your intended use for it. As in all states, penalties imposed for marijuana possession in Illinois can include incarceration, fines, and marijuana addiction treatment. Those found to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use only will typically face much more lenient penalties than those with large amounts and/or who intend to sell marijuana. Keep in mind also that possession of synthetic forms of marijuana (such as tetrahydrocannabinols) or concentrated marijuana (hashish) will often face stiffer penalties than those who possess organic marijuana. However, the substance known as K2, which attempts to imitate the effects of marijuana, is still legal in Illinois until January 1, 2011.
Note that in Illinois, as in all states, you do not have to be caught in the act of selling marijuana to actually be charged with attempted distribution. Merely possessing a large amount of marijuana, measuring equipment, baggies, or other marijuana paraphernalia can be used as evidence of your intent to sell. The table below indicates Illinois penalties for acts related to the possession and distribution of marijuana under Illinois law. There are separate penalties under federal law. Due to the complicated nature of state marijuana laws, specific penalties in Illinois could vary depending on your particular circumstances. Consulting an experienced Illinois criminal attorney is a must if yours is a complicated arrest situation.
Illinois Marijuana Penalties Table
|
Activity |
Amount |
Incarceration 3 |
Fine (max) |
Charge |
|
|
1st Offense |
2nd or more |
||||
| Possession or Gifting | 2.5 g or less | 30 days max | Same | $1,500 | Misdemeanor (C) |
| Over 2.5 g – 10 g | 6 months max | Same | $1,500 | Misdemeanor (B) | |
| Over 10 g thru 30 g | 364 days max | See Below 1 | $2,500 | Misdemeanor (A) | |
| Over 30 g – 500 g | 1-3 years | See Below 1 | $25,000 | Felony (4) | |
| Over 500 g – 2,000 g | 2-5 years | 2-10 years | $25,000 | Felony (3) | |
| Over 2,000 – 5,000 g | 3-7 years | 3-14 years 4 | $25,000 | Felony (2) | |
| Over 5,000 g | 4-15 years | 4-30 years 4 | $25,000 | Felony (1) | |
| Sale | 2.5 g or less 2 | 6 months | Same | $1,500 | Misdemeanor (B) |
| Over 2.5 g – 10 g 2 | 364 days max | Same | $2,500 | Misdemeanor (A) | |
| Over 10 g 30 g 2 | 1-3 years | See Below 1 | $25,000 | Felony (4) | |
| Over 30 g – 500 g 2 | 2-5 years | 2-10 years | $50,000 | Felony (3) | |
| Over 500 g – 2,000 g 2 | 3-7 years | 3-14 years 4 | $100,000 | Felony (2) | |
| Over 2,000 – 5,000 g | 4-15 years | 4-30 years 4 | $150,000 | Felony (1) | |
| Over 5,000 g | 6-30 years | 6-60 years | $200,000 | Felony (X) | |
| Cultivation | 5 plants or less | 364 days max | Same | $25,000 | Misdemeanor (A) |
| 6-20 plants | 1-3 years | 1-6 years | $25,000 | Felony (4) | |
| 21-50 plants | 2-5 years | 2-10 years | $25,000 | Felony (3) | |
| 51-200 plants | 3-7 years | 3-14 years 4 | $100,000 | Felony (2) | |
| Over 200 plants | 4-15 years | 4-30 years 4 | $100,000 | Felony (1) | |
- The second offenses marked result in penalties equal to the 1st offense of the next higher offense. This includes a felony charge.
- Marked offenses committed within 1,000 feet of school property or conveyance used to transport students to and from school result in incarceration penalties equal to the next higher offense on the table. Fines may be even in excess of that.
- Incarceration periods may be extended under Illinois extended term sentence law for felonies, depending on the circumstances of the crime. Extended term sentence maximums are indicated under “2nd or more” penalty periods on the table.
- The felonies marked result in an incarceration of 6-60 years on the third offense.
Follow this link for more information about Illinois Marijuana Laws and Illinois Medical Marijuana Laws
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Mary Martin
Published Legal Expert
Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
Published Legal Expert
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.