J.B. Pritzker on Drugs

	J.B. Pritzker on Drugs

Legal cannabis creates jobs, businesses, new tax revenue

We made enormous strides when Democrats and Republicans came together to legalize adult-use cannabis which will result in 63,000 new jobs, and new opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially those from communities that have been left behind. It gives us a chance to collect tax revenue from the residents of Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana, and most importantly, we're giving a second chance to hundreds of thousands of people who had a low level cannabis conviction or arrest. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Legal marijuana will raise revenue & create jobs

By legalizing and regulating adult-use cannabis, we will create jobs and bring in $170 million in licensing and other fees in fiscal year 2020. I don't view this issue through a purely financial lens. I think we should take this action for our state because of the beneficial criminal and social justice implications and the jobs it will create. Like it or not, cannabis is readily available right now. I would rather tax it and regulate it than deny the reality of its use and accessibility. Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 20, 2019

Legalize and tax marijuana

Asked about marijuana while speaking to a group of college Democrats in Bloomington, JB Pritzker received roaring applause to his one-sentence statement on the topic: "And I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it."

Chris Kennedy was asked by a student: if it was legalized, what would his plan be for using the tax money? "I think you have high hopes," Kennedy quipped to laughter and applause, and then said, "I don't know whether it'll get legalized, I don't know if it'll get taxed. I mean, I think betting our future that all of that occurs and that somehow that's gonna cure our budget problem. I think we need thoughtful, real, concrete [policy plans] that operate without relying on something that has, you know, tenuous, possibilities. Sorry. I'll tell you the truth." The students were dead silent when he finished, so Kennedy decided to take one more question because, he said, "I can't go out on that one."

Source: CapitolFax.com on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race , May 1, 2017

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*Other governors on Drugs:*			*J.B. Pritzker on other issues:*
*IL Gubernatorial:* Barack Obama Jesse Sullivan Paul Schimpf Richard Irvin *IL Senatorial:* Anne Stava-Murray Kathy Salvi Mark Curran Peggy Hubbard Tammy Duckworth	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4. Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4. Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate). Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025) Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]