Today’s quotable
Thursday, Jul 11, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Newsweek…
Marijuana policy experts predicted that this year would be a “real game-changer” in terms of cannabis reform at both the state and federal level. But halfway through 2019, the movement has had less progress than hoped.
“The reality is that public policy change rarely works that way. Slow and steady tends to be how change like this happens,” John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Center for Effective Public Management, told Newsweek.
“There are of course watershed moments, but those are rare. 2019 has not been a watershed moment,” Hudak added. […]
Other states where marijuana policy reform was expected to pass easily this year, like New York and New Jersey, were not successful despite being backed by a majority of state leaders. Hudak said these failures show “that simply wanting a law to pass and simply having public support for that law is no guarantee that a legislature will move.” [Emphasis added.]
- Samuel Culper - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 10:40 am:
Strong leadership by the Governor was the main difference between Illinois and New York and New Jersey. The understanding that a bipartisan Bill was the best path to success is the missing element in other States.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 10:46 am:
So proud of Illinois Democrats, who are up to speed with Illinois voters on this issue. Also proud of them on the graduated income tax amendment. Democrats need to be proud and strong, and not live in Republican narratives or act like them at critical times. This also may have a lot to do with Pritzker, who strongly supports the issues and has money to back up skittish Democrats.
- ChicagoVinny - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 10:47 am:
The general debacle that’s happening in New Jersey government makes you appreciate the Governor and legislative leaders finding a way to get a ton of stuff done here, including pot legalization.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 10:56 am:
Credit should be given to leadership for it happening but some credit should also go to our financial situation that also provided an environment to make it happen
- DIstant watcher - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 11:05 am:
“simply wanting a law to pass and simply having public support for that law is no guarantee that a legislature will move.”
Ain’t it always the truth
- OutOfState - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 11:12 am:
Pritzker was certainly essential to the process, but let’s not forget the tireless efforts of the bill’s sponsors, like Kelly Cassidy, to actually get it done. These changes require constant effort and attention, which is exactly what the quote says. The sponsors knew that good will or public sentiment alone wasn’t going to pass a good bill.
- Techie - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 11:35 am:
OutOfState, I think you’re correct; not only was Governor Pritzker’s voice on the issue critical, but so was the work the Cassidy and Steans did to continue working with legislators to tweak the bill to accommodate the concerns of various parties. A job truly well done.
- Unpopular - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 11:53 am:
That is because in some states the Government still marginally acts as a check on the lesser angels of the public’s nature. Here in Illinois the politics follows the polling, regardless of how disastrous the end result is financially, health wise, or otherwise.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
===Here in Illinois the politics follows the polling===
If that’s the case, cannabis would’ve been legalized years ago.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
“in some states the Government still marginally acts as a check on the lesser angels of the public’s nature”
Yep. That that’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the government of New Jersey.
– MrJM
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 1:12 pm:
=That is because in some states the Government still marginally acts as a check on the lesser angels of the public’s nature. Here in Illinois the politics follows the polling, regardless of how disastrous the end result is financially, health wise, or otherwise.=
Tell that to Florida and Alabama where the “states” are working feverishly to suppress minority rights.
- Seats - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
OneMan, if the states finances played a big role in getting it passed, shouldn’t New Jersey been able to pass it for the same reason?
- Maryjane - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 3:05 pm:
Unpopular: Cry more.
- Mama - Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 7:45 pm:
- JS Mill - you need to include several other states like the North and South Carolina, etc…
- truthteller - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 6:15 am:
better than 50% of all the states have passed laws legalizing/decriminalizing pot, Illinois was a historic moment for the midwest and all our border states are in a quandary as they know the potential cost of convention business to Illinois will likely result. This is what not talked about.