Illinois patient sentenced to four years for cannabis possession a day before the state votes to legalize

One day before the Illinois legislature voted to legalize recreational cannabis, a 37-year-old Chicago man pled guilty to possession of over 5,000g of cannabis after he ordered 42lbs of chocolate cannabis edibles from a business in California with intent to sell, according to Kane County state’s attorneys.

“The marijuana-laced product found at Mr. Franzen’s home was not purchased from a medical marijuana business, and the amount he purchased far exceeds what would be used for personal consumption and is evidence that he is a drug dealer,” State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement.

“He got the best disposition that was available given the constraints of Illinois law,” Franzen’s attorney told CNN.

Although Illinois has had a medical cannabis program for more than five years, wait times to access the drug have been criticized by patients. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug and it remains illegal under federal law.

Treatment for testicular cancer in the United States can cost patients more than USD$50,000 (approximately CAD$66,000).

 

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