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Monday, Jan 10, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 10:12 am - The House just spent about 45 minutes debating a Senate-approved bill that would outlaw so-called blunt wraps. From the synopsis…

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Includes in the definition of objects intended to be used unlawfully in ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cannabis, cocaine, hashish, or hashish oil into the human body that constitute drug paraphernalia, individual tobacco wrappers, known as wraps, blunt wraps, or roll your own cigar wraps, that are made wholly or in part of tobacco, including reconstituted tobacco or flavored tobacco, whether in the form of a sheet or tube, if such wrappers are designed to be sold or distributed to individuals.

This was partly about one company trying to get an advantage over another company by using Drug War scare tactics.

The bill passed the Senate 56-0 in December. Today was a different story, however. The House resoundingly voted it down 42-69. That’s not enough “Yes” votes to put the bill on Postponed Consideration, so it’s dead unless somebody files a motion to reconsider.

This was a trivial, goofy bill and the House should’ve avoided it while the tax hike plan, workers compensation, the capital bill and other major proposals are still not yet finished. But, hey, at least it’s dead.

…Adding… Raw audio of the debate…

Download Link

* Speaking of motions to reconsider, the medical marijuana bill might not be dead yet…

Representative Rita (D) (Blue Island) who voted NO on SB 1381, was asked to file a motion to reconsider the vote,which he did. Usually, they do that immediately after the vote. At any rate this means THE BILL CAN BE CALLED for another vote!

12 Comments

- Cindy Lou - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:22 am:
I didn’t care one way or the way on this bill until I listened to debate. The speaker who let loose on blueberry cig papers put the whole debate into what the whole thing is about…one company vs another.

I thought they said yesterday afternoon that first up this morning was the work comp bill?

- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:24 am:
I think the workers comp bill isn’t ready, considering react in yesterday’s committee hearing.

- Irish - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:35 am:
They are doing what they do best. Dealing with fluff instead of the important issues.

Remember the old western movies where the stage coach is headed for the cliff, the horses have broken free, the wheel is wobbling just barely staying on, and in another second the stage coach will fly out in space and begin the long slow fall to utter destruction? That is exactly where our State is right now. By the first week of April we will be on the long slow fall.

And our astute GA is sitting inside the coach arguing about who gets to use the bathroom first at the next stop.

I know of a couple facilities that plans are being made to close at this very moment. The citizens of Illinois are going to be very surprised what this Spring is going to bring if a tax increase is not forthcoming.

- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:48 am:
Congrats to Jumpy Jimmy Sacia for leading the charge to give the pot dealers the big win on blunt wraps……gotta love it when he tosses the FBI b.s. in teh sewer to front for the dark side
He should be proud.

- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:50 am:
More silly stuff. If you hit the tobacco stores just across the County line, you can buy pipes, rolling papers, hookahs, and bong-looking contraptions.

The stores just have signs up that say “For Tobacco Use” only. Apparently, that’s all they need to do to keep kosher.

- just sayin' - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 10:56 am:
Listening to Barb Currie - who I think is a very classy lady - just matter of factly using words like “bongs” and “blunts” and other words presumably common in the drug culture was funny on one level and surreal on another.

A bit like an SNL sketch parodying Katherine Hepburn.

- Just Observing - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 11:38 am:
When I heard last week on FOX News Chicago that they were considering this bill, I was blown away. We have real problems in this state and they are focusing on such nonsense. As if kids who want to smoke pot will just give up on it if blunt wrappers aren’t widely available. I mean I’m sure they won’t be able to find rolling paper, pipes, bongs, or even dig out tobacco from cigars. Such silliness.

- zatoichi - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 11:59 am:
JO, not to mention the paper tube roll or carved out apple with a little tin foil for a bowl. Just dumb.

- Pilgrim - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 12:57 pm:
I guess this lunacy at least shows us where some of our state representatives “priorities” happen to be. File that one in the “old memory bank” for the next time when they come up for re-election.

- jerry 101 - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 1:00 pm:
wordslinger -
back when I was in college, I worked at a place that sold such accessories.

In addition to the signs stating “For Tobacco Use Only”, if someone made reference to using any of the items with an illegal substance, for an illegal purpose, or used the slang terms for the items (bong), we were supposed to correct them (”only for tobacco use”, “only for making whipped cream”, “water pipe”). If a prospective customer insisted on using the improper terminology, we were supposed to refuse the sale and ask the person to leave. I don’t know if that was required by the law, or if the owners were just a bit…paranoid.

- Just Observing - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 2:38 pm:
Zatoichi — I forgot about the apple — besides being handy, it is also an organic, environmentally better way to smoke. Perhaps we should ban apples.

- Ain't No Justice - Monday, Jan 10, 11 @ 4:07 pm:
Yes, Irish….there are some closing scheduled.

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