Image Source: MICHEL COMTE/AFP/Getty Images/ People gather outside during a ribbon cutting ceremony by the owners at the new Fire and Flowerpot store on April 1, 2019, in Ottawa, Ontario. It was the first bricks and mortar retail cannabis stores opened in Ontario

Although recreational pot will become fully legal in Illinois from early January next year, Chicago's Housing Authority has warned residents of public housing that they cannot use marijuana in their premises and any violation will lead to eviction.

According to marijuana news, the CHA sent a letter to Housing voucher recipients recently and warned about the consequences of smoking or possessing pot on "federally funded grounds" after legalization on Jan. 1. 

 “While federal law prohibits marijuana use and possession in federally subsidized housing, the Chicago Housing Authority is working to educate and inform residents so they understand all applicable laws related to cannabis and federally-funded housing,” noted the CHA spokeswoman Molly Sullivan.

The statement said the CHA will work with the City of Chicago to develop rules based on existing state and federal laws to ensure responsible implementation of marijuana legalization in Chicago, famous for its baseball team Chicago cubs.

Congress must decide

Sullivan sought to explain the rationale despite an apparent contradiction, noting the Federal Controlled Substances Act pronounces use and possession of medical or recreational marijuana as an illegal activity. So, it will continue to be prohibited on federally subsidized property, therefore, “Unless Congress decides something different ... we don't have an option.”

This conflict between state and federal laws on marijuana has pushed Illinois public housing residents into a dilemma like many others in other parts of the country. Even those carrying valid medical marijuana cards and entitled to buy and use products like cannabis oil are not spared. 

There is criticism that the selective application of the law is affecting or penalizing the poor who rely on federal assistance for housing.

“This is unequal and unfair protection of people," reacted Bruce Margolin, an attorney, and activist. Margolin condemned CHA for threatening to strip people of their homes if they do what others are doing. He called the step “cruel.” 

Margolin also works as the director of the Los Angeles chapter of NORML, a national advocacy group seeking to decriminalize marijuana across the country.

Pressure for marijuana legalization in Florida

Illinois known for Illinois lottery could be grappling with implementation challenges, but Florida is witnessing campaigns by political committees to hasten a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.  

People gather outside during a ribbon cutting ceremony by the owners at the new Fire and Flowerpot store on April 1, 2019, in Ottawa, Ontario. It was the first bricks and mortar retail cannabis stores opened in Ontario. Photo: MICHEL COMTE/AFP/Getty Images

One lobbying group has collected more than 57,000 petition signatures and submitted them to the state Division of Elections.

The lobby group “Make It Legal Florida” was registered in August and spent more than $1 million so far in gathering petition signatures.

If the proposed amendment is approved by voters, adults in the age of 21 or above can “possess, use, purchase, display, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana accessories for personal use for any reason.”

The committee will have to submit 76,632 signatures before February to facilitate a Florida Supreme Court review of the proposed ballot wording. 

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