On the face of it, we sound like a contradiction: A group of moms working to legalize cannabis. In fact, we are Illinois state legislators who share long-held concerns for economic fairness, social justice and public safety.

And legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use might not seem connected to economic equity. Trust us: it is.

If passed, Illinois Senate Bill 7 would address inequities that have plagued our state — and disproportionately affected communities of color — for decades.

The proposal would create a $20 million low-interest loan program that would benefit new cannabis companies in areas disproportionately affected by the unjust drug laws of the past. These “social equity applicants” would include businesses owned by people who were punished under old cannabis laws.

In the old days, a new business opportunity like this would have gone to the friends or family of those in power. But this legislation brings it into the public and gives some measure of equal access. It opens the playing field to new players.

That’s no small thing. Over the years, punishment for drug offenses has been enforced in highly unequal ways. In affluent communities, offenders with a couple of joints were penalized with a slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, minorities landed in jail for the same offenses.

A black person was nearly four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than a white person, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. And almost nine in 10 of the people convicted in Chicago on cannabis charges between 2013 and 2016 were African-American, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The current proposal would expunge thousands of low-level cannabis convictions, which can make a huge difference in the lives of those convicted. A person seeking a job or a loan would be able to provide a clean résumé rather than one tainted with a conviction for a minor offense.

Our old, draconian system helped keep families and communities in poverty for years. But now, the movement to legalize cannabis can help us achieve justice while offering economic opportunity in the areas that most need it.

The law would make Illinois safer, too. Currently, the cannabis market is like the Wild West — a booming illegal market with no standards or regulations. Cannabis sellers can (and will) sell to minors, and cannabis isn’t tested for purity or potency, creating a higher risk of contamination by pesticides, molds, bacteria or even lacing.

Regulation would let the state set clear guidelines about the sale of cannabis — including potency levels — and ensure it is safer than in today’s free-for-all environment.

Finally, this all is basic common sense. Cannabis legalization is a growing trend — more than half of Americans have smoked it during their lives, and more than 20 million use it regularly. Ten states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, and 33 have legalized medical cannabis (including Illinois).

Legalizing cannabis for adult recreational use has the clear support of Illinoisans — 60 percent of state residents believe it should be legalized, taxed and regulated like alcohol, according to a poll released Monday by Think Big Illinois.

There’s also the matter of money. It’s clear legalization would be a windfall for Illinois, though there’s no way of knowing exactly how much the state would earn from this new policy. However, we do know that Colorado has brought in nearly $1 billion in total revenue since it legalized cannabis in 2014.

Think of how that money could lift us up: Better schools, safer streets and stronger communities.

We have the opportunity to ensure that cannabis is a safe and a productive driver of the Illinois economy while also addressing a grave injustice that’s harmed millions of people. Seems like a no-brainer to us.

Co-authors Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), Heather Steans (D-Chicago), Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) are members of the Illinois General Assembly.