The Governor has begun to pardon individuals who have low-level marijuana convictions on their criminal records. Today Democrat JB Pritzker granted more than 11,000 pardons as adult-use cannabis becomes legal on January 1st. Pritzker says the including misdemeanor expungement as part of the legalization of marijuana was key in bringing equity to people who bore the brunt of the war on drugs.

Pritzker says as the lawmaking process went on he met many people who have been held back from getting a good job or filling out a housing application because of a drug conviction on their record.