Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced 9,219 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on December 31, 2020, Capitol News Illinois reported in January 2021. That brings the total to 20,236 cannabis pardons since the 2019 legalization law, including 11,017 on December 31, 2019.
The Illinois State Police expunged 492,129 non-felony cannabis arrest records. Only 10 of 102 counties had finished mirroring expungements; the rest had until January 1, 2025. The pardon route covers misdemeanors from before June 25, 2019, such as possession up to 30 grams or sale up to 10 grams; larger cases need a court petition.
Why it matters: Illinois shows how much relief is possible, and that larger-quantity and felony cases still need individual court action.
Source: Capitol News Illinois, 2021-01-04. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting.