* Tribune…
Responding to recently introduced legislation that would legalize marijuana in Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner had a less than enthusiastic response but said he’d be willing to study it.
“I’m not a believer that legalizing more drugs will help our society so I’m not philosophically enthusiastic about it, but I’m also open to what actually works to make life better to people,” Rauner told the “Roe Conn Show” on WGN-AM 720 on Thursday.
“I’m hearing some pretty bad stories. Now, I haven’t studied it. I think we should do a thoughtful analysis of what’s happening in these other states. I’m hearing a lot of trouble,” he said. “My friends in Colorado have told me some pretty terrible things about addiction problems and behavior problems, etc. over there in Denver.”
To sum it up, Rauner said, “I just believe we’re conducting a massive human experiment as we legalize these drugs.”
He’s relying on anecdotes from his rich Denver pals? Are you kidding me?
* Since he said we need to study the issue, perhaps he can take a few minutes to do some reading on the topic. This is from Wednesday’s edition of the Colorado Statesman…
Colorado alone has compiled several research studies demonstrating that legalization has not facilitated a spike in violent crime. During the first year of the implementation of Amendment 64, Denver experienced a 2.2 percent decrease in violent crime rates and an 8.9 percent reduction in property crime offenses, according to research conducted by the Drug Policy Alliance.
Many other reports have corroborated that data, including findings by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, the FBI Uniform Crime Report and a study conducted by a student research group from Metropolitan State University.
The Colorado Department of Public Safety report showed a 6 percent decrease in the violent crime rate statewide from 2009 to 2014.
Other jurisdictions that legalized the recreational marijuana industry have experienced similar declines in violent crime. In Washington State, violent crime rates decreased by 10 percent from 2011 to 2014. Portland, Oregon, saw crime rates drop since legalizing the recreational marijuana industry as well.
Another comprehensive study published by a criminology professor at the University of Texas at Dallas demonstrated that legalized marijuana was not a likely indicator of crime rates and that legalizing the industry can actually reduce homicide and assault rates. Dr. Robert Morris’ study tracked crime rates across all 50 states between 1990 and 2006, when 11 states legalized marijuana for medical use.
“We found no increase in crime rates resulting from medical marijuana legalization, Morris told Science Daily. “In fact, we found some evidence of decreasing rates of some types of violent crime, namely homicide and assault.”
Researchers have pointed to a few reasons why legalizing the marijuana industry has helped reduce violent crime rates. Marijuana-related crimes are often committed by underground cartels. Because the illegal cartels cannot access the court systems, they resort to violence when settling territorial disputes or business conflicts. As a result, legalizing recreational dispensaries can reduce violent crime rates by diminishing the prevalence and influence of these black market groups.
* He might also want to read these stories…
* Legal Marijuana’s Social Impact On Colorado
* Colorado Takes Aim at the Marijuana Black Market: A new measure that limits the number of marijuana plants a person can grow at home won approval in March from the Colorado House of Representatives. It is expected to win approval in the Senate, and Gov. John Hickenlooper has also supported tighter restrictions in the legal marijuana market.
* Ivy League Study: These Are the Top Reasons People Want Legal Marijuana
That state is showing the way. They have some problems and they’re fixing them. But crime isn’t an issue.
Sometimes I suspect that, back in the day, the local weed dealer was an AFSCME shop steward who ran over the Rauner family pet.
- Cheryl44 - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:36 am:
Oddly enough my friends in Denver think having all that extra tax revenue is a great thing.
- Illinoised - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:42 am:
Rauner picks and chooses when he wants to govern. He chooses not to govern when it comes to a budget but chooses to govern ( be the morals police) when it comes to pot.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:42 am:
Bruce, dude, it’s like totally stemmy and full of seeds. Pretty terrible.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:42 am:
My friends in Denver think not having s budget for years and a Governor trying to hurt citizens is bad governing.
#ColoradoFriends
My friends in Denver think the skiing is just terrible anywhere else but Colorado
#ColoradoFriends
My friends in Colorado think the Pac 12 is far superior than B1G when it comes to football and basketball
#ColoradoFriends
The ironically funny thing is, Bruce Rauner and I only have anecdotes, and right now we both look incredibly foolish passing on the beliefs and opinions of our friends, but I’m not a governor basing a policy stance on any of these #ColoradoFriends.
- Stark - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:43 am:
Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda./snark
- Collinsville Kevin - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:44 am:
Sounds like the governor is way behind the people on this one, right where you would expect a Republican. But at least he said he was “hearing” a lot of trouble instead of “hearin’,” right?
- GOPgal - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:44 am:
The issue is the state helping people be unambitious and lazy.
Like Illinois needs more “help” on that score? Seriously?
Can’t believe I’m on same side as Rauner on an issue.
- Skeptic - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:44 am:
If your sentence starts with “I’m hearing…” or “People are saying…” or “I heard that…” then the rest of the sentence is meaningless in a rational discourse.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:45 am:
“I’m hearing some pretty bad stories. Now, I haven’t studied it. I think we should do a thoughtful analysis of what’s happening in these other states. I’m hearing a lot of trouble.”
Jeepers!
Can’t wait ’till he hears the juicy gossip about vital social services collapsing in Bruce Rauner’s budget-less Illinois.
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:45 am:
===The issue is the state helping people be unambitious and lazy.===
Oh, please. Your tired broad brush needs replacing.
- Jerry - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:46 am:
I for one am SHOCKED Gov Rauner is wrong.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:46 am:
“But but but… I want to govern on this one guys. Please Koch brothers, can I please try to govern on this one?”
- Illinoised - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:46 am:
Is the harm Rauner alludes to worse than the harm inflicted on vulnerable citizens of Illinois due to lack of a budget?
- Stark - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:47 am:
GOPGal - A point with no evidence for it goes both ways. For example, you could be called a ‘pothead’ because you’re being lazy with your arguments.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:49 am:
I know I’m in the tiny minority here, but first gambling, now marijuana.
What’s next? Legalized prostitution?
- Rogue Roni - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:49 am:
For a governor who spends a lot of time at breweries and a lot of money on wine clubs he’s got some nerve. How many people’s lives have been ruined by alcohol?
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:50 am:
“The issue is the state helping people be unambitious and lazy.”
Thanks for your input June, now go back to waiting for Ward to come home.
- Vole - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:50 am:
People becoming rich in earthly senses is what troubles Rauner’s friends.
- frisbee - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:50 am:
Didn’t he want to run this state like a business?
Although with a van like his he probably has been profiled by the police and they totally harshed his mellow.
- Mason born - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:51 am:
Sometimes I suspect that, back in the day, the local weed dealer was an AFSCME shop steward who ran over the Rauner family pet.
Probably stole his girlfriend to.
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:52 am:
The guy shells out thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine but he’s got reefer madness.
I hear stories that some people have such drinking problems that they join wine clubs so it gets delivered to their house. They’re so hooked the cant even bring themselves to go to the store. Sad!
It must be swell to be retired and not have to educate yourself on public policy issues. Willfully ignorant must be doubly blissful when you have no responsibilities.
I’m sure Mexican cartels and gangbangers are happy about the governor’s cluelessness, too. Legalalization would mean the loss of a big source of income.
Tell us, governor, do any of your rich friends tell you stories about the opioid epidemic in this state?
If not, maybe you could ask some of the front-line social service providers you’ve been bleeding dry in pursuit of the personal agenda you believe you’re entitled to because you’ve spent so much money on your retirement hobby.
- Jocko - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 9:53 am:
Bruce is hearing things? Someone should take him to a shelter to receive a mental health screening.
What…they’re all closed?
- Anon - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:00 am:
Rich is linking Zero Hedge. Love it!
Keep fighting the good fight Miller. Colorado is a wonderful place these days. The economic boom created from legalization is real and just beginning.
- State IT - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:01 am:
His rich friends don’t gain anything from the taxes bring in. Therefor pot is bad.
If it does make it to him you know he’ll veto it. Here’s hoping some Reps will help over turn that and not cower under his thumb.
- illinoised - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:05 am:
GOPgal, are you telling me that Willie Nelson is unambitious and lazy? Have a Willie nice day.
- Dublin - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:05 am:
“Many people are saying…”
“I heard…”
“Some people say…”
“I’m hearing…”
“…believe me!”
-Donald Trump/Bruce Rauner
- Vole - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:08 am:
Coors must have taken a hit.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:11 am:
===Coors must have taken a hit.===
But it never inhaled!
- SoILL - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:13 am:
Legalize it and put a huge tax on it like we do tobacco. Bring some revenue into the state coffers. In today’s society, Marijuana is already very easily obtained, lets solve some fiscal issues while stealing revenue from criminals and not the middle class.
- Boone's is back - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:13 am:
Soundin’ more and more like Trump every day
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:19 am:
have they heard about Acapulco Gold? (can they sing the jingle?) Or Hawaiian? maybe they are not good shoppers. Heard anything bad about Coors?
- Valvino - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:21 am:
What a fool. I’m sure the State hates all the extra tax money from marijuana sales?
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:24 am:
I’d say that there should be a screening of “Up in Smoke” re the issue, but apparently that title is already taken for the State of Illinois budget.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:27 am:
“My friends in Colorado have told me some pretty terrible things about addiction problems and behavior problems, etc. over there in Denver.”
It’s 2017 and the Governor of Illinois still believes in Reefer Madness.
– MrJM
- Bigtwich - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:27 am:
My friends in Colorado are telling me “pretty terrible things” about the Illinois Governor.
- fed up - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:29 am:
The dude definitely doesn’t abide.
- Saluki - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:35 am:
Just make sure you don’t smoke a cigarette on campus….that would be bad…
- Dublin - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:38 am:
Is Denver now worse off than Chicago with all of it’s violence?
- Biker - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:48 am:
Something tells me his Colorado friends are owners of multinational beer companies.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:58 am:
=== a decline in the violent crime rate ===
Unlike with alcohol, marijuana is not associated with violent crime. The key concern is whether legalization increases cannabus use disorder among adults and use among teens. Consumption is the issue, as the Canadian Task Force on Legalization concluded.
- TominChicago - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Are these Colorado friends in his $100k a year wine club?
- seattlites moving home - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:00 am:
I have friends from hs who have chosen to move BACK to Spfld to raise their kids. After living in Seattle and watching people get high on street corners, they do not want their children doing the same. And this is from someone who served in the Army. After seeing the world they’ve chosen to move home.
- phocion - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:08 am:
Hmmm. Colorado crime down. Revenues up. Opiate addiction down.
Illinois crime up. Revenues down. Opiate addiction up.
And which state has legalized marijuana?
- JAH - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:09 am:
It’s amazing that this is the issue he actually stands up as Governor of the State and takes on….. reminds me of the old saying Lead, Follow or get out of the way!!
- Homer J. Quinn - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:16 am:
on one side we have facts and statistics; on the other we have an old man who’s heard some gossip. but the old man has power, and in 2017 that’s all that matters. so the old man will obstruct the will of the people because he wants to, and because he can. your facts are irrelevant.
- crazybleedingheart - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Gee, I wonder who he knows in Colorado that could explain all of this moral panic.
Family…”pet.” Sure.
- South Illinoisan - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:18 am:
Never going to happen with BVR as governor. Any debate of this bill will be just the spinning of wheels. If and when it does happen, remember, this is Illinois, it’s guaranteed to be over regulated and over taxed.
- A guy - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:20 am:
I’ve been reading a lot about this as my FB feed has allowed me to “like” a number of the advocacy groups. The great news is that they are publishing enough that I can read about it daily.
There are some problems (as one might expect) with the legal weed biz in Colorado (and California). Nobody should be dismissing the revenue side; it’s been positively dramatic. The other (mostly western) states that have far more expansive Medical Marijuana programs have been critical of the quality and safety level of the “legal, recreational” weed going down dramatically. Market forces are able to cope with the regulation of distribution, but not quality. It’s also a little too easy for non-eligible minors to get it there. Much easier than buying booze.
A more permissive and inclusive Med Mar policy and program seems to be a helpful step in getting to Recreational. We’ll never see any revenue of consequence here in Illinois until more Medical conditions are approved.
This is going to move in the same manner as same sex marriage; there will be a rapid erosion of populist opinion against it. My own opinion based on this research is that no matter what our Gov’s Colorado pals are telling him; we’re a lot closer to this than he or we think. The people are coming around quickly. The industry is finally able to legally get some good info out there that helps make the case.
For the record, I’ve never tried MJ. Don’t intend to. If I’m ever unfortunate enough to need it for medical purposes, I’m certain I’d opt for the Cannabis oil. I’d like to have that option.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:21 am:
Streator Crumudgeon-now you’re beginning to sound like a Libertarian.
- Yeah - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:22 am:
- Biker - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 10:48 am:
Something tells me his Colorado friends are owners of multinational beer companies.
Or maybe Liquor Warehousemen.
- Payback - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:35 am:
“I’m not a believer that legalizing more drugs will help our society…”
Who says marijuana is a drug anyway? It’s a plant. MJ was put on the same schedule as heroin and cocaine by the feds back in the 1920s, which is ridiculous.
The unseen here is that any sort of legalization begins to undermine the huge military/police state hybrid that sprouted in the Reagan 1980s. Example: DEA agents being trained in paramilitary tactics by U.S. Army instructors at Ft. Benning circa 1989-1990. I know, I was there.
The stated reason was to conduct coke lab raids with local military partners in South America, especially Colombia and Peru. There are much deeper issues here of police militarization, dismantling of Posse Comitatus, and funding covert operations such as Iran/Contra. The Nancy Reagan rubes here need to wake up.
- Dave's Not Here - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:39 am:
** The economic boom created from legalization is real and just beginning **
economic benefit, maybe. Boom, don’t be ridiculous.
I once heard a state trooper say legalization would lead to a state full of stoners. I asked then why do we not have a state full of alcoholics - needless to say he didn’t like that much…
- Sox Fan - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:55 am:
===I have friends from hs who have chosen to move BACK to Spfld to raise their kids. After living in Seattle and watching people get high on street corners, they do not want their children doing the same. And this is from someone who served in the Army. After seeing the world they’ve chosen to move home.===
Judging by population reports for Washington and Illinois, this family is definitely in the minority.
- Keyser Soze - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:56 am:
We hear that snack cracker sales are spiking in Denver.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:57 am:
===this family is definitely in the minority===
Exactly.
Plus, I’ve seen people get high on Springfield corners, too.
- Tom - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Just got back from Denver. I saw more able-bodied people panhandling then ever before. Not scientific, but one guy had a sign that said: “Need money for a joint”.
- Rabid - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
The “massive human experiment” has been prohibition, I’ve heard some pretty bad stories
- NoGifts - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
“Its a business decision.”
- Lycurgus - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
Crime is not the problem with legalizing pot. The problem is the increase in use and the cognitive damage done to young brains (mines too old to worry about). JMO
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
No one in Colorado wants other states to legalize weed. Think about how many pot tourists would stop going to Co from Illinois. Esp rich folks who are benefitting immensely from all that cash flow into the state.
- Johnny Tractor - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
MrJayEm stole my thunder - I was about to recommend everyone to an excellent documentary that appears to be the basis of the Governor’s opinion …
Seriously, we do have a documented drug problem in this state, like other states - opioid abuse. A good way to help address it is through prevention and treatment programs formerly funded by the State. However, because it’s more important to bust a union, a real and documented public health issue is ignored in favor of empty cliches based on ignorance.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
Where are the DUI & public assistance statistics for Colorado? Have either of these statistics increased with the legalization in Colorado?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
===the cognitive damage done to young brains===
They check ID’s at the liquor store, grocery store, Walgreen’s when you buy booze. Illegal pot dealers do not check ID’s when you buy weed. If you want to keep pot away from kids, then put it in the stores where they can’t buy it.
- Smitty Irving - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
IF his friends include Philip Anschutz, well, consider the source.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
===able-bodied people panhandling===
Meh. If that’s all you got, it ain’t much. Once Colorado is no longer a legalization mecca, that’ll decline. California is about to crank it up bigtime. Snoop Dogg will have his own brand. Meanwhile, we’re stuck with a governor who listens to a few rich Denver people talking about problems that don’t actually exist.
- The Way I See It - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
I’m not terribly judgmental about pot, but downtown Denver is sketch central with stoners.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:00 pm:
===downtown Denver is sketch central with stoners===
I was just there a few months ago. And I totally disagree.
- WhoKnew - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
Sorry Bruce!
I won’t believe that until Trump tweets it! /s
- Sir Reel - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
“I’m open to what works to make life better to people.”
Yeah. Sure. Right.
Try again.
- NN - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
where were the democrats when they held the mansion on this issue? This state can’t tie it’s shoes regardless of political affiliation….
- cdog - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
“Sometimes I suspect that, back in the day, the local weed dealer was an AFSCME shop steward who ran over the Rauner family pet.”
That made me laugh-snort.
Good one.
Maybe Rauner has other friends that can explain to him the costs of American blood money given to violent drug cartels? Costs of health issues like “wet brain” and hepatic encephalopathy from stage 3 alcoholism in the workplace? Destruction of families and lives from the same cartels delivering opioids to American streets? Rauner’s sure not a smart as he thinks he is.
Btw, Seattle is weird. When you try to get past the satanists set up on the downtown sidewalks, exercising their scary fersion of free speech, to make it into a dispensary, you’ve put your soul in danger. I wouldn’t raise a family there either. Denver is much more convenient.
Love me some ZeroHedge too, and love their motto — “On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.”
What say you Rauner? Can you get this one right?
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
If I were a Rauner acquaintance in Denver I’d tell him “terrible things” about legal weed, too. Because the last person I’d want visiting me to smoke weed would be Bruce Rauner.
- A guy - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
++- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 11:57 am:
===this family is definitely in the minority===
Exactly.
Plus, I’ve seen people get high on Springfield corners, too.+++
Not nearly enough, dude. lol
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
I’d happily welcome a Stoner State t shirt to my collection which has the recent addition of a Deep State t shirt.
- A Jack - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
Oddly enough I have partaken considerably in college, but graduated with highest honors. While my younger brother who never tried it, dropped out of college and lived in our parent’s basement until well into his thirties.
So I am not buying these goofy weed scare stories.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 2:48 pm:
Didn’t Rauner go to one of the Dead shows at Soldier Field a couple of years ago?
Did the crowd of 70K or so at the show and the thousands more outside strike him as particularly violent or scary?
I went to the Friday night show and there was plenty-o-tokers every step of the way from the train and all around Museum Campus.
The most mellow big crowd you’ve ever seen in your life.
- Jay - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:21 pm:
It’s an outrage Rauner wants to continue criminalizing the citizens of Illinois over an herb. No one should be put in a cage or have their life messed with over a plant, it’s an absurd and cruel thing to do.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
I’m happy to be a stoner.
- New State Worker - Friday, Mar 24, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
Hmm…crime up in Colorado, which has legalized marijuana? Yeah okay buddy…I don’t think that “murdering” a bag of Doritos counts, and if it did I’m sure Frito Lay could care less.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 28, 17 @ 8:29 am:
I have said this before, unless this legalization of cannabils law includes complete dismantling of the unions, it will not pass. So this statement from his ‘friends’ is his out for legalization. His mission is not to help Illinois with the generated taxes from cannabis but to bust unions and eliminate the middle class. Peace.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 28, 17 @ 8:31 am:
Want to tell Governor Rauner how you feel about ending cannabis prohibition in Illinois? Fill out his survey by checking “Other” and filling in “Support legislation to tax and regulate marijuana”!
This was easy. Only one question and I picked “other” and filled in the statement in quotes above.
Of course he wanted a donation. I picked “no”. He needs to be a one-term governor. He could not even redeem himself by legalizing marijuana, ending the prohibition would be great! That is my opinion.
https://www.brucerauner.com/survey/