House OKs ban on flavored rolling papers

SPRINGFIELD — Flavored tobacco rolling papers that critics say are used to smoke marijuana would be banned under a plan approved by the Illinois House.

The House gave its OK to the bill sponsored by Rep. Dennis Reboletti Thursday night. The legislation would also toughen the penalty for heroin sales.

Reboletti, a Republican from Elmhurst and a former prosecutor, says the so-called blunt wraps come in fruit and candy flavors designed to appeal to children.

Rep. Rita Mayfield, a Democrat from Waukegan, says there’s no evidence children are buying the flavored papers and says the legislation unfairly targets businesses.

The bill would also send anyone who sells 3 or more grams of heroin to prison. The threshold is now 5 grams. The bill is HB3801.