* Op-ed by Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis)…

Marijuana legalization will be particularly destructive for our youth. Recently, more than a dozen children consumed marijuana-laced gummy bears at an elementary school in Ohio. The youngest child treated was just 5 years old. And that follows another incident from late last year when children at a Florida middle school were given similar marijuana-laced gummies from a 12-year-old classmate. […]

Proponents argue that legalizing marijuana is a social justice movement. Illinois recently decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, which means that those who possess less than 10 grams face a fine similar to a speeding ticket and are not subject to arrest. Decriminalization allows the user of marijuana to avoid a criminal record without the dangerous, unintended consequences of full legalization.

1) Cannabis is currently illegal in Ohio and Florida, so I don’t understand his point.

2) Decriminalization deliberately keeps in place the often violent criminal networks behind its production and distribution. I prefer to stand against that element. Also, under decrim, you can possess pot-laced gummy bears. He’s contradicting himself here.

* Pot growers who want to keep their monopolies decide to pay for study that shows - surprise! - they should keep their monopolies…

Existing growers of Illinois’ medical marijuana crop would be able to meet demand for recreational pot in Illinois for up to four years after legalization, but the state would need more than 400 new dispensaries to handle distribution, according to a study released Tuesday from a group that represents about two dozen state licensed marijuana growers and sellers.

The study contradicts a report released last month that suggested existing growers could meet recreational pot demand for only about two years. That study was commissioned by lawmakers drafting a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, which is a priority for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

One of the central questions facing lawmakers is how many licenses should be created for growers and sellers of recreational pot. There are 17 companies licensed to grow and 55 dispensaries in this state’s medical marijuana pilot program. […]

The alliance’s study, prepared by the Marijuana Policy Group, a Colorado-based consulting firm, says the earlier projections overestimated the demand by about 200,000 pounds per year and underestimated how much current growers can supply. The new study says the previous report overestimated demand by not accounting for Illinois’ smaller population of heavy marijuana users compared with other states and by counting intrastate travelers when calculating the impact of tourism, among other issues.

* Big money continues pouring into the state…

Grassroots Cannabis raised $90 million to expand its operations in Illinois and across the country, becoming the latest Chicago-based marijuana company to bring in a sizable round of funding.

The money will be used to further develop Grassroots’ cultivation facility in Litchfield, about 210 miles southwest of Chicago, said CEO Mitch Kahn.

Grassroots also plans to expand its cultivation facilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania, states with growing medical cannabis programs, and build dispensaries in other states where the company recently won licenses. The bulk of the funds, though, will be put toward mergers and acquisitions of other cannabis operations, Kahn said. […]

Last week, a company based in Phoenix agreed to pay $850 million for Chicago-based cannabis operator Verano Holdings. Chicago-based Cresco Labs announced Monday that it would pay $120 million for a Florida marijuana company. Last year, national operator MedMen bought Oak Park’s PharmaCann for about $680 million.

* Related…

* Marijuana legalization elsewhere leaves Hoosier employers dazed: “My advice for employees is, don’t use marijuana if you work in Indiana,” she said.