Proposed legislation by a Grundy County lawmaker would allow legal marijuana businesses in Illinois to use the banking system. Due to federal and state banking regulations, most legal marijuana businesses are operating on a cash-only basis.

State Senator Toi Hutchinson’s proposal – contained in Senate Bill 2023 – would prohibit the Secretary of Illinois’ Department of Financial and Professional Regulations from issuing an order against, penalizing or discouraging financial institutions from providing financial services to cannabis-related businesses. 

Last year, the legal medical marijuana industry in Illinois took in $136 million in revenues. Hutchinson, who represents a small portion of Grundy County, teamed with Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs on her proposal that passed out of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee a few weeks ago.

Senate Bill 2023 passed the Senate this afternoon without opposition and will now head to the Illinois House for further debate.