81 Comments - Colossus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:33 am: I am very encouraged that this is the year this happens for Illinois. (Not to mention certain federal legislation filed by reps from CO and WA…) - dupage dan - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:35 am: Don’t bogart that joint, dude. - downhereforyears - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:36 am: I really haven;t followed it, but isn’t that what Langs bill does? - Fed up - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:37 am: We should skip the fraud that is medical marijuana and just legalize and tax it. - Nickypiii - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:40 am: The current bill is the most restrictive of any States current law. NJ has had a lot of problems because of the hoops required to get permission to be a distributor of Medical Cannabis. The number of patients cannot be served in a timely manner. Marijuana should be legal for all. Prohibition didn’t work for alcohol and it hasn’t worked for cannabis. Criminalizing people for personal use is idiotic and has repercussions that can follow a person for life. Legalize and tax it as Washington and Colorado have done. Illinois sure could use the money to pay down the 9 Billion in over due bills. Join the 21st century Illinois and demand that cannabis prohibition ends now. - Liberty_First - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:40 am: I went to college with a guy who would be holding down his toke, coughing and gagging while flailing his arms around complaining all the cigarette smokers were polluting the air. If mary jane is efficacious then let the FDA deal with it or legalize it for everyone and tax it to pay for the cost to society. - Jeff Trigg - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:42 am: To channel our President this week, they deserve a vote Michael Madigan. The sick and dying people with cancer deserve a vote. The disabled people with MS and MD and Parkinsons deserve a vote. The people who are paralyzed and those suffering through pain and nausea deserve a vote. Go do your job, Michael Madigan. Note to Lou Lang, your bill is way too strict and harsh which makes it difficult to really root for. Lighten it up and give the patients, providers and doctors more freedom please. The sky won’t fall if Illinois’ medical cannabis program isn’t the toughest and most restrictive in the US. This should have been done ten years ago, btw, and we should be debating the end of the failed prohibition of cannabis right now. - Jeff Trigg - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:45 am: Fed up, I don’t believe medical cannabis is a fraud. Prohibition is a fraud, but cannabis really can and does help people medically. - anon for a reason - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:48 am: Not gonna happen in Illinois. Big Pharma in everybody’s pocket. Find one politician that does not take the money from Pharma. Look at all the people that go to Canada or Mexico to buy everyday drugs. - the Patriot - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:50 am: I don’t see why this is any different than narcotics or other opiates for medical purposes. My problem with is from a recreational standpoint. You can’t tell me I need to pay taxes for someone’s healthcare and then legalize things that exponentially increase their healthcare costs. But I don’t think people who smoke or use any recreational drugs should get government funded healthcare either. - Nickypiii - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:54 am: The Patriot: Govt. funded health care for users of harmful substances? Are you nuts or just blind? Alcohol and Tobacco kill thousands of people every year and we don’t exclude “users” from health care do we? Get real and think before you say some thing like” gets your Govt. hands off my Medicare!” - reformer - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 9:55 am: anon for a reason State legislators generally don’t get much from Big Pharma. Jeff T Lang could’ve called his bill if he had the votes. It wasn’t Madigan who killed it. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:00 am: – But I don’t think people who smoke or use any recreational drugs should get government funded healthcare either. – Considering 67% of American adults drink alcohol, that certainly would trim the insured rolls. I’d rather leapfrog to the Colorado or Washington models. Illinois could use a growth industry. - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:01 am: - You can’t tell me I need to pay taxes for someone’s healthcare and then legalize things that exponentially increase their healthcare costs. - I take it you’re joining Michelle Obama’s “War on Our French Fries”? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:04 am: “whaaa…” Now I need Cheetos. “I mean … the Bar Graphs were literally singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ to me …whoa” To the post, As states continue to look at the medical uses for marijuana, at some point, this states’ rights versus federal laws is going to have to be brought by some AG in these states when they have to defend these state laws. If there is also a way to tax it, to make the lives of the patients better, then maybe the proponents will have an easier time within the legislature, and this type of poll is only going to help … “Wow, mind blowing, really …” - VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:05 am: So when did smoking become cool again? Oh yeah, when you have a “medical” reason you can get high. Gotcha! Ridiculous. - Hon. John Fritchey - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:06 am: More interestingly, a Gallup poll last year found that 50% of Americans support full out legalization for marijuana. It’s just a matter of time until rational logic trumps fear mongering and lack of political courage. - Fred's Mustache - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:08 am: I am not a marijuana user, but I think this poll really shows that we need to rethink our policy on marijuana as a whole - not just medicinal marijuana. Our drug laws (sorta like our marriage laws) have been dictated mostly by what type of behavior society is willing to accept. The effects of marijuana on the human body have not changed over the years. How our society views those effects, and those that use marijuana have changed. Its time for the law to change. We need to realize that if our current laws prohibiting marijuana are intended to deter its use, they are not working. Additionally, these laws are having an adverse societal impact in that those that are involved in the drug trade are involved in street gangs or other forms of organized crime that commit other violent crimes to protect their drug turf. Legalizing it, taxing it, and regulating it is just good policy. Generate revenue, regulate the product, and although a change would not dramatically reduce crime relating to the drug trade, it should provide movement in the right direction. The time for change has come. - lincolnlover - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:09 am: Legalize it for everyone. We need the sales tax and it would free up law enforcement for more important things. Like seat belt enformcement. - Senator Clay Davis - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:17 am: Outright legalization is the only real solution. This is a forum for intelligent, political people. Somebody please offer a legitimate reason why marijuana prohibition makes sense. Not that Pharma would let it happen… - Colossus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:20 am: So we have people who don’t even want to use it saying it makes fiscal and social sense to legalize, and Wise Old Men scoffing at the very notion that this should be taken seriously. Note to Patriot and VM (et al): You’re not gonna handwave this away any more than you did gay marriage, or the capital punishment ban. Might want to be a bit less dismissive just because those whippersnappers like things you don’t like, because those whippersnappers are our next generation of reps, senators, and statewide officials. In 20 years, the people who’s ideas are shaped by the 21st century will be in charge. - Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:22 am: OK with it, but not within 10 feet of the entrance. - train111 - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:22 am: If big pharma could somehow patent the plant used for legalized Marijuana and then control all the profits, we would all be astounded by how fast federal law makers eager for big pharma $$$ would “see the light” train111 - Colossus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:23 am: Train - isn’t that pretty much the amendment that derailed this in veto? - shore - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:24 am: Another ridiculous issue right up there with the chick fil a stuff in chicago. focus on the issues that count instead of this sideshow stuff. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:26 am: ===Another ridiculous issue=== Considering how many people support this, I believe you’re way out numbered. - mythoughtis - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:29 am: I vote to flat out legalize it. Tax it, regulate it, allow employers and others to test for it and prohibit its use for their employees, etc. Treat it like we do alcohol, so that we have DUI charges available, and age restrictions. Prohibition of alcohol didn’t work, either. All that did was help the Mafia… and the cartels and gangs sure resemble to Mafia to me. Let adults do what they want to do to themselves in terms of drug use, just enforce laws that keep them from harming others (DUI, for example, second hand smoke for another). And continue to outlaw drugs that are made from non-natural substances, such as meth. - mythoughtis - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:32 am: Also, let’s clean out the prisons/jails of people that are there for the drug use that we make legal (if we make it legal). - wayward - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:32 am: I’m inclined to say legalize it, restrict it to adults, and tax the hell out of it. Maybe waive the taxes for those using it for medical reasons. It’s not going away, and I’d rather have the government make money from it than the cartels. - Prosecutor - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:34 am: I have not problem with people who have serious medical conditions having access to any substance that helps ease their pain and suffering, but every medical marijuana law so far has been ineffective in making sure only the truly sick get a prescription for it and making sure those growing it are only selling to those who have a prescription. Maybe Illinois’s proposed law will solve these problems, but I’m not holding my breath. As far as legalizing marijuana and taxing it to raise money, we tax tobacco and the Attorneys General still had to sue tobacco companies for billions of dollars to recoup the State’s health care costs. Legalizing marijuana creates as many problems as it solves. - Prosecutor - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:35 am: I meant “no problem” and “Illinois’”. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:36 am: ===focus on the issues that count instead of this sideshow stuff.=== Since there are session days, and a General Assembly meets 2 years at a time, when should the GA discuss, debate, and vote on the other thousands of bills or discuss the other issues? “Look, April 17th to …um… 24th…ish… we can disucuss maybe all the other thousands of bills or issues …. cool?” Doing the job of the legislative branch is not about 2 issues and that is it, or 4 issues, 2 bills and 1 discussion of a constitutional amendment. That may seem like it, but those may be the highlights or the talking points, but more is discussed or voted on, or even killed in those session days. It’s not like the legislators have forgotten the hot issues or bills overnight…and session evolves, grows issues, srinks issues, its ever changing and handling more than one issue at a time is part and parcel of the job. With Respect. - Fred's Mustache - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:36 am: === I don’t see why this is any different than narcotics or other opiates for medical purposes.=== It is illegal to possess many medicines that are approved for medicinal use without a precription. Also, people abuse prescription drugs everyday. Get a clue. - Fred's Mustache - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:42 am: === As far as legalizing marijuana and taxing it to raise money, we tax tobacco and the Attorneys General still had to sue tobacco companies for billions of dollars to recoup the State’s health care costs. Legalizing marijuana creates as many problems as it solves.=== Actually the Attorney general sued the tobacco companies for fraud: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2006_04/20060419c.html - Jake From Elwood - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:43 am: This descendent of hemp farmers (although you probably would not want to smoke that ditchweed) is all for growing of hemp for industrial use and for legalization for medicinal purposes. I am not sure I am ready for the State to allow it for recreational purposes. Perhaps it is because I have two teenagers. - Johnnie F. - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:43 am: Full legalization, regulate, tax and use the proceeds for pension debt. It is a great way to generate tax revenue from retirees. After all, baby boomer retirees will have the most time on their hands to relax and roll a big fat one. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 10:58 am: Has medical marijuana been litigated to SCOTUS? Until the Feds get in front of this issue, I think Illinois should hold off on any form of legalization. Normally, I am a local-control kinda guy, but we cannot create a patchwork of laws that may or may not be overruled by the Feds, either in SCOTUS or the whim of the Federal Executive deciding whether or not to enforce a law. Once the Feds get it together, and assuming medical and/or recreational pot use is not a Federal crime, I say legalize and tax to our hearts content. - dupage dan - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:00 am: Big Pharma. Sheesh. Fed Up - I generally agree. Pot may have some uses - I think many who suffer from severe nausea as a result of chemo or other medical conditions get some relief. Some folks find it helps with some debilitating conditions like MS as it seems to relieve some of the pain and muscle spasms. Other claims that it is helpful for things like Crohns disease, bipolar disorder, ADHD, HTN, seizures smacks of the kind of quackery we saw a hundred years ago. Any time a substance or a drug is claimed to treat or cure dozens or hundreds of medical conditions it is usually bunk. I’m all for more study to determine just what pot can do medically. I think the medical pot thing is the foot in the door. Stop claiming you are doing it for the sick folks - cause we’re all gonna get a ’script that says we need it. We see that in California and elsewhere. Claim you have ADHD or anxiety and you’re good to go. Forget about the whole glaucoma thing. You would have to smoke continuously in order to maintain the lower pressures - much easier to do with modern treatments (oh, yeah - I forgot - big pharma). - Just Observing - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:01 am: === Not gonna happen in Illinois. Big Pharma in everybody’s pocket. Find one politician that does not take the money from Pharma. Look at all the people that go to Canada or Mexico to buy everyday drugs. === So… how did it happen in other states? - Just Observing - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:03 am: === I am not sure I am ready for the State to allow it for recreational purposes. Perhaps it is because I have two teenagers. === I bet your kids would have an easier time buying marijuana since it’s completely unregulated than alcohol since it is regulated and one must be 21. - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:07 am: - Has medical marijuana been litigated to SCOTUS? - Who cares? I thought you right wingers hated litigation. We have 3 branches of government, they all have their role, we don’t need to run everything by one of them before taking any action. - thunder - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:08 am: who are we to say what is medically proven to help ppl. absolutely I am for it. whatever works!! - TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:12 am: It has been legal to use pot to treat “glaucoma, the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy in cancer patients or such other procedure certified to be medically necessary” since 1978 (P.A.80-1426, 720 ILCS 550/11). Does anyone know why this is not enforced? I’ve heard it has something to do with the State Police not promulgating rules to do so, but I don’t know. It just seems strange to me that the GA has been struggling to pass a law allowing medical marijuana when such use is already legal. Illinois was one of the first states to allow it. What am I missing? - dupage dan - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:21 am: === I thought you right wingers hated litigation === base on what? - Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:23 am: Since the train has left the station, it’s time to develop a robust method to determine where the line is drawn regarding driving and working while intoxicated. Impaired drivers or workers are a hazard to all regardless of the source of the impairment. - Prosecutor - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:24 am: “The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) settled fraud claims multiple states, including Illinois, brought in the 1990s against the tobacco companies, including allegations the tobacco companies intentionally marketed cigarettes to children and hid cigarettes’ addictive qualities and damaging health effects. Forty-five other states and six U.S. territories either have filed or are contemplating actions similar to the one Madigan filed today…’Illinois and other states previously sued the tobacco companies for deceiving the public and creating a massive public health crisis,’ Madigan said. ‘These suits forced the tobacco companies to pay for their fraud. Now these companies are failing to live up to their agreements.’” The basis of the suit was fraud,but the costs of the “massive public health crisis” caused by smoking is, in my opinion, what the State’s wanted the money for. My point is still valid - it’s not a given that the taxes would be enough to offset any increased public health costs. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:27 am: Legalize. Tax it. Thoughtful regulation. Smoke via vaporizer, which greatly reduces neg health effects. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:28 am: Prosecutor, you tipped your weak hand by focusing on health matters instead of legal matters. Stick to what you know. - Prosecutor - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:39 am: I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises. - Amalia - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:49 am: Legalize it. right now for medical issues. and time to go the way of Colorado as soon as that can be managed. - mike graham - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:54 am: Thank you Capitolfax Mr. Miller!! As a patient whose daily quality of life depends on my use of cannabis medicinally INSTEAD of the “prescribed” OXYCONTIN, I want to thank Rep Lang for his tireless devotion to passage of a compassionate care act. It will happen in Illinois and when it does, Illinois will have a “pilot-program” that is the strictest most tightly controlled in the nation for a reason, because THAT is what the legislature will sign on to and that is what the Governor has demanded. All states with programs where studies have been done have determined the areas of greatest potential abuse and those areas have been addressed to reduce the chances of that happening here.~ ~~dupage dan, while i appreciate your support, your statement “Other claims that it is helpful for things like Crohns disease, bipolar disorder, ADHD, HTN, seizures smacks of the kind of quackery we saw a hundred years ago. Any time a substance or a drug is claimed to treat or cure dozens or hundreds of medical conditions it is usually bunk. I’m all for more study to determine just what pot can do medically. I think the medical pot thing is the foot in the door. Stop claiming you are doing it for the sick folks - cause we’re all gonna get a ’script that says we need it. We see that in California and elsewhere. Claim you have ADHD or anxiety and you’re good to go.~~ This statement Sir, I find offensive. Sir, do you have a loved one that suffers from Crohn’s, ADHD or Bi-polar? I Do have friends that suffer from these conditions and I would much rather see them use cannabis to control their sometimes horrendous symptoms than the pharmaceutical options currently available that tend to leave them semi-comatose and non functional.~ ~~2FTthick, my understanding is that the ‘78 law was never implemented because it was never “funded” by DPH & ISP was in no hurry to do so, consequently~~NO $ = NO PROGRAM To everyone else~THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! Mike Graham Illinois Cannabis Patient patient/advocate/criminal - sam elliot 4 - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:04 pm: I Am Ready For Leagalization and hemp growth for fuel , food and construction - Skeptic - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:17 pm: “If big pharma could somehow patent the plant used for legalized Marijuana and then control all the profits . . .” No, that’ll be Big Agro (Monsanto, et al.) GMO marijuana anyone? - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:27 pm: - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:07 am: - Has medical marijuana been litigated to SCOTUS? - “Who cares? I thought you right wingers hated litigation.” We normally do. We especially try to avoid litigation first, instead of possibly breaking a Federal law, or relying on an activist Federal Executive to determine which laws they choose to enforce or change from Administration to Administration, as I predicated in my original post. Also, in my original post, I said that if it is legal, then it’s up to us to allow and/or tax as we see fit. You, on the other hand, seem to prefer the State use is vast financial resources to litigate something that may be illegal (c.f. Chicago’s endless lawsuits on guns). - mike graham - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:30 pm: ~~skeptic~~the federal government owns a patent on the “medicinal benefits of cannabis” (6630507) look it up…. - hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:35 pm: @cincy - scalia and kennedy support the feds using the commerce clause to crack down on medical marijuana in states where it is legal… but ruled in a completely opposite direction on the commerce clause in the obamacare case. The case law here is pretty murky. What isn’t murky is the govts hypocrisy on this issue particularly where the federal govt has been providing govt grown medical marijuana to a small group of people since the 70s but cuts it off for everyone else - Anonymouse - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:36 pm: I think Illinois is likely to follow the lead of CO and WA, although probably not until the federal implications of these state laws are worked out by Congress or the courts. By taxing cannabis 25% at each step in the process (grower–>distributor–>user), as proposed in Washington, Illinois could create millions in new revenue to pay down our pension debt as well as saving money in law enforcement and corrections. Plus, allowing farmers to grow hemp for industrial use could be an economic boost downstate. As much as I personally support legalization on moral and political grounds, I think the economics of legal cannabis will be the driving factor for Illinois legislators. - danlinn - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:42 pm: The ‘78 law that is still on the books (sections 11 & 15 of cannabis control act) has never been implemented because State Police haven’t written rules for DHS and DHS hasn’t asked them to do so. I’ve heard that a doctor did once get approval to do research with actual cannabis through those provisions but haven’t verified it. I’ve been told it was written to be used in conjunction with the shut down federal Investigational New Drug program. The defunct federal IND program still sends 4 patients monthly tins of medical cannabis grown for the feds in Mississippi. We’ve brought one of those patients to the Capitol and ALL the lawmakers and staff want to smell and see the tin.. . . . Mammals have an endocannabinoid system that regulates and modulates other systems in the body. Until they found the ECS, retrograde signaling was unheard of and big Pharma is sniffing around but wait until next month and the American Herbal Pharmacopia releases a mongoraph on cannabinoid dosage. Expect the feds to try to have this bypass the FDA and be regulated like vitamins and supplements. International Cannabinoid Research Society used to hold their symposiums in St. Charles at pheasant run. A now ChiDem once told me that until we can replace the prison economies in rural IL and America, the war on drugs will continue to manufacture prisoners (mostly young black and brown men) from urban areas to support those downstate economies. SCOTUS ruled in favor of feds citing interstate commerce clause in early 2000s I could go on about medical studies, racial disparities in sentencing or the absurd history of prohibition all day. . . . . . . - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 12:58 pm: hisgirlfriday & danlinn, Thanks for the update. This only confirms my thoughts on the issue. Would you agree that what goes as enforcement is totally at the whim of the Executive, as things stand today? - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:12 pm: - seem to prefer the State use is vast financial resources to litigate something that may be illegal (c.f. Chicago’s endless lawsuits on guns). - Beg pardon? When did I ever call for that? Perhaps you should quote me before making accusations about what I may or may not prefer. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:21 pm: –You, on the other hand, seem to prefer the State use is vast financial resources to litigate something that may be illegal (c.f. Chicago’s endless lawsuits on guns).– What does any of that mean? What Chicago lawsuits on guns? What state litigation has there been regarding Chicago gun ordinances? Chicago was sued — they weren’t bringing “endless lawsuits.” The state was sued over conceal carry, won in district court and is appealing an adverse 2-1 appellate decision. - Josh - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:41 pm: It’d be nice to have our state using common sense, step into current times and be compassionate. However, I think our state of Il. should follow the lead of Wa. and Co. and regulate and tax for recreational use. It would sure help our finances! - SouthSide - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:42 pm: We understand both the Reds & Blues are working together on this issue. I hope they work on a Bill for Safe, Affordable, Access. The peoples’s Bill. let it be one that Benefits Illinois Patients & Citizens. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:45 pm: - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:07 am: - Has medical marijuana been litigated to SCOTUS? - “Who cares? I thought you right wingers hated litigation.” I’ll try again, and now you guys can also read the knowledgeable quotes from attorneys shown above. I want to AVOID lawsuits, not promote them. I also want the laws to be enforced by the Executive, and not have the enforcement at the whim of the Executive. It seems you guys are comfortable with a situation where laws are ignored by the Executive. Don’t say you aren’t because what other way can anyone understand your comments. All I have indicated, since the very first post, is that because of the confusion in Federal law, anything done at the State level is up for grabs. I personally don’t care if pot is legalized or not. But I do care that where Federal law already exists, a State tread lightly on passing their own laws that may be in conflict with the Feds. If there were no Federal confusion, I say the States have every right to go their own way. Again, you guys twist people’s words to show how brilliant you feel you are. Get a grip. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 1:57 pm: Cincy, don’t be such a victim. –You, on the other hand, seem to prefer the State use is vast financial resources to litigate something that may be illegal (c.f. Chicago’s endless lawsuits on guns).– Nobody twisted your words. They just make no sense as written. In addition, with no evidence, you accused STL of a general position he clearly has shown he does not hold when it comes to guns. Get a grip on your own self. - rezin8d - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:03 pm: This Illinois resident would be grateful. I’ve lived here almost 20 years, and am sick of being a criminal due to a plant. - LisleMike - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:10 pm: Sheesh! I am amazed at the people who are ideologically opposed to someone actually fighting with them when they are basically agreeing with them. I am personally opposed to it being openly legal. But I am in the minority, as always it seems, and have to go with the laws as they are enacted. This includes gambling. The issue in my mind is dealing with the deficit and pension problems. all other issues pale in comparason. Let’s see how many people want to fight with me on that! I am sure there will be some out there….The whole issue seems to be like a charlitans trick of waving his hand, saying “look here” while he picks our pocket with his other hand….. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:12 pm: - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 11:07 am: - Has medical marijuana been litigated to SCOTUS? - “Who cares? I thought you right wingers hated litigation.” Here’s how the words started to get twisted. You folks have no problems taking thoughts and words out of context, then twisting things around so you look superior. The usual thin gruel we all have come to expect whenever somebody doesn’t agree with your enlightened position. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:20 pm: ===The issue in my mind is dealing with the deficit and pension problems. all other issues pale in comparason.=== We need growth. Period. This can create some jobs. Why do you hate jobs, growth, more revenue for the budget? /snark - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:30 pm: Cinci, I didn’t twist your words, I copied and pasted them. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:44 pm: And you, sir read a QUESTION as a position. You’ll notice that other more knowledgeable people took the time to explain the legal issues surrounding the issue. And the “right winger” comment is an exact example of the problem. It is not a spirited debate, it is certain people always trying to score some sort of asinine point. - LisleMike - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 2:45 pm: Rich, I will be over my head in an argument/spirited discussion with you. I am not a skilled debater. I also can take a snark. However, I do support jobs, but not necessarily jobs/growth in areas which are against my morals. I am not judging, only responding with my heart. If we really want jobs, free up capital from taxes. Municipalities have done it by waiving taxes while businesses get started. We did in Lisle with Navistar. Point being, if we really want to create jobs and growth through legal marijuana it can happen, but I could not support it. If we got the deficit and pension problem behind us, it would free up monies otherwise going to taxes and help bring jobs and growth to my state. - wishbone - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:11 pm: “Illinois could create millions in new revenue to pay down our pension debt as well as saving money in law enforcement and corrections. Plus, allowing farmers to grow hemp for industrial use could be an economic boost downstate.” Based on what appear to be fairly good estimates of tax revenues from legalization in Colorado and Washington, Illinois could expect about $500 million per year in increased tax revenue. Not enough to solve our pension crisis but a nice boost nevertheless. - Colossus - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:30 pm: LisleMike - I don’t think anyone thinks that getting “the deficit and pension problem behind us” is going to free up any money. Also, freeing up capital from taxes isn’t going to add any jobs if no one is buying what companies are making. A company that’s not investing in itself is making that decision because there isn’t a market for it to expand in because if there was, they would find a way to meet it and increase profits. There needs to be more money coming in to tackle pension and bill backlog, but nobody wants to pay more in income (or other) taxes. Hence the reason to look at things that are a) completely voluntary (medical issues aside) and b) not currently taxed. When you combine this attitude with the results of the poll above, you can see how the momentum towards recreational use legalization is building. I general see $14-16B thrown around as the rough dollar value of full legalization in the U.S. (achieved through reduction in spending on enforcement and increase in tax revenues from this new stream) . - TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:33 pm: @Mike Graham & danlinn Thanks for the info! - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:36 pm: Cinci - Is it not your position that we should wait on a Supreme Court ruling? I can’t see any other way to take your initial comment. My point remains, who cares? We don’t have to wait on Supreme Court rulings to pass sensible legislation. - Just The Way It Is One - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:50 pm: Making it legal for that specific reason has been my position for quite some time now–nice to see over 63% of other fellow Land ‘o Lincolners concur… - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 3:59 pm: “The suit sought compensation for the millions of dollars the state pays in tobacco-related medical expenses each year.” Quote from the Illinois Attorney General website on why they brought suit against the tobacco companies. Taxing the heck out of something isn’t going to necessarily pay for the increased cost to the taxpayers. Will the State still be ahead by reducing the cost of criminal prosecution and incarceration? Maybe. But if your argument in favor of legalizing marijuana is the taxes will solve our debt crisis, you need to take this added expense into account. - Prosecutor - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 4:33 pm: Sorry, that last post was from me. Not trying to be sneaky. - Sandy - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 5:21 pm: It’s time. It will pass because it’s the right thing to do. The bill is supported by both parties and it’s more about who has the courage to stand up and do the right thing. When (not if) this bill passes, it will help me as a caregiver and hundreds of others, like me, who struggle to get a decent safe affordable product for their loved ones. And for the patients, it’s a matter of showing deep compassion and care and helping them live as pain free a life as they can. My husband, Jim, is a service connected disabled veteran. He has Multiple Sclerosis and uses a wheelchair to get around. He uses cannabis to help control his terrible ms symptoms such as muscle spasms, loss of appetite, fatigue and pain. At one time, Jim was known to take 59 pills a day to try to control his disease; many of which didn’t help him, in fact, only made him worse and his quality of life suffered. Cannabis has enabled him to reduce his pill intake to 25 a day with no side effects except an increase in his appetite and activity level. He’s able to get up out of the bed, he’s able to function and enjoy his life much better thanks to cannabis. We need to continue sending the message to of compassion and educating with common sense. It’s that simple.” - Sandy - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 5:36 pm: @Brandon, How is this against the church? Isn’t healing the sick a basic fundamental of the Catholic Church, of any Christian faith? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.