Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement November 2019 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Literature Review .................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Crime ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Youth Use ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Illicit Drug and Alcohol Use .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Hospitalizations/Emergency Department Visits ................................................................................................. 34 Black Market ....................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Traffic Safety ....................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Homelessness ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Implications ........................................................................................................................................................................ 48 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act .................................................................................................................... 49 Cannabis Possession and Sales ................................................................................................................................... 49 Expungement...................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Taxes ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Opt Out .................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Prohibitions......................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Changes to Cannabis Control Act ............................................................................................................................... 52 Recommendations for Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................... 55 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................ 61 References ................................................................................................................................................................................ 63 1 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement 2 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Special acknowledgement to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute for the research and writing of this paper. Supervising Author Heather Hotz, MA Program Director Division of Research, Education and Training Lead Researcher and Author Nathan Brown Research Assistant Lead Editor Grant Senderak Research Assistant The opinions and findings in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute, or the State of Illinois. Websites and sources referenced in this publication provided useful information at the time of this writing. The authors do not necessarily endorse the information of the sponsoring organizations or other materials from these sources. Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute Western Illinois University 1 University Circle Macomb, IL, 61455 www.iletsbei.com 3 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement 4 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement PREFACE This research focuses on arguments against the shows an increase in hospitalizations while decriminalization of marijuana by opponents of another shows a decrease, this report will the bill and determines the value of each focus on the increase to help law enforcement argument. Data sources include national prepare for this issue in the event that an databases, reports from law enforcement increase does occur in Illinois. If the issue does agencies, research articles, analysis of the not have an effect in Illinois, then law Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, and enforcement is still prepared for it and, media reports regarding six states that have therefore, this absence of contradictory data is decriminalized marijuana for at least three justified. years, to confirm or dispel these arguments. Alternatively, this report will note if available The six states that decriminalized marijuana data only shows positive effects of marijuana and used for this research are Alaska, and no negative effects. This report attempts to California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and be as unbiased as possible, while focusing on Washington. the negatives to prepare law enforcement for It is the intent of this research that findings will potential impacts. Any finding in this report prepare law enforcement for the potential should not be considered a prediction for impacts of decriminalizing marijuana. Data Illinois. from credible sources that identify an effect has The terms marijuana and cannabis are used happened in any of these states, is considered interchangeably throughout this report. for preparation purposes of law enforcement agencies in Illinois. This report ignores any research that has conflicting data. For example, if a study 5 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement 6 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The decriminalization of cannabis is a . Since 2014, adult use of marijuana challenging issue for Illinois law enforcement increased 17.6% in Alaska, 15.6% in agencies. Agencies are struggling to write California, 24.2% in Colorado, 32.6% in policies and procedures, train the workforce, Nevada, 40.5% in Oregon, and 21.5% in educate public officials and the community, and Washington. As a whole, the US only saw more in anticipation of the January 1, 2020 a 14% increase. start date for the Illinois Cannabis Regulation . Additionally, all six states had a higher and Tax Act. percentage of adults who use cocaine Through thorough research of national than the rest of the nation. Therefore, databases, reports from law enforcement marijuana may be a gateway to drug to agencies, research articles, analysis of the stronger drugs. Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, and Increase in hospitalizations and calls to media reports, this report has found the poison centers. following potential impacts that law enforcement should prepare for in anticipation . California saw a 586% increase in of the decriminalization of cannabis: emergency department visits from 2006- 2016 with any mention of cannabis Increase in youth using marijuana in the mental disorders of dependence. initial year of decriminalization and a decline afterwards. California also saw a 156% increase in hospitalizations with a cannabis diagnosis . Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon from 2006 to 2014. saw an initial increase in marijuana use by 12-17 year olds from the year before . Colorado saw an 81.4% increase in decriminalization and the year after. hospitalizations related to marijuana However, since 2013, the United States as from 2011-2014. a whole saw a steady decrease