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Right now the next Big Tobacco industry is using Illinois’ sad finances as an excuse to put more drugs on our streets. As we fight to increase age limits for our kids to buy cigarettes and try to stem the tide of the opioid crisis, Big Marijuana is rushing to create an unchecked pot industry in our state. They don’t want you to ask questions, and they don’t want you to know the facts about the rush to legalization.

Fact #1: Marijuana potency has increased in some cases twenty-fold (up to 99% THC) since the 70s when Woodstock weed was about 5%. Fact #2: High potency marijuana is marketed through colorful candies, gummies, and sodas to tempt children. Fact #3: In Colorado, drugged driving went from killing one person every 6.5 days to one person every 2.5 days.

We must ask the tough questions during the rush to legalize the next big business in the state. There must be a better way to solve the state’s budget mess. Creating a new drug industry isn’t a smart one. Visit www.healthyillinois.org to learn more and stop the next Big Tobacco industry in Illinois.