Moylan Looks to Prevent Lawmakers from Profiting Off Cannabis

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Looking to expand state ethics laws, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, recently introduced legislation to prevent any potential conflicts of interest between members of the General Assembly and the growing cannabis industry.

“The guidelines currently in place to prevent conflicts of interest from arising between legislators and cannabis companies are not extensive enough,” Moylan said. “We need to strengthen the restrictions on politicians who legalized marijuana to make sure it is not possible for them to exploit loopholes for their personal gain.”

When cannabis legalization was passed in 2019, members of the General Assembly who serve within a two year period of the effective date were subject to a lifetime prohibition from holding a financial or voting interest in a licensed cannabis business. The lifetime prohibition was also extended to immediate family members. Moylan’s House Bill 4763 expands guidelines to prohibit these members and their immediate family from accepting employment at a cannabis business or holding a passive interest in a publically traded cannabis business.

“We’ve seen too many politicians try to game the system for themselves,” Moylan said. “The cannabis industry is seen as lucrative by many, let’s make sure that the people who passed it don’t unfairly take advantage of the system they created.”

For more information about this legislation please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email StateRepMoylan@gmail.com.