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* One of the oldest ploys by interest groups here is to trot out a preacher to use race to make their case for them and the Tribune fell for it hook, line and sinker…
Anti-marijuana forces warned Wednesday that legalization will allow white corporate exploitation of minority customers, comparing its effects to those of alcohol and tobacco.
The Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston of New Hope Baptist Church said that legalization will amount to marijuana companies “pimping” blacks and Hispanics.
“Profit is the motive,” he said. Livingston spoke in downtown Chicago with several other members of Healthy and Productive Illinois, a group that opposes legalization and is supported by Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national anti-cannabis organization.
Illinois has already decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, which takes away much of the social justice argument in favor of legalization, said Livingston, who has been active in social justice issues in Chicago.
*Sigh*
* From that same Tribune reporter a few weeks ago…
[Kevin Sabet, head of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes legalization] said decriminalization of marijuana, which took effect in Illinois in 2016, addresses many of the social justice issues.
That sounds familiar.
Look, stopping at decriminalization means the supply and distribution chain will still be run by criminals, some of them violent criminals. We need to dry up these criminals’ revenue source as much as we can in order to get their operations out of neighborhoods.
* The Tribune used some of Rev. Livingston’s more “reasonable” quotes, but conveniently left out his comparison of legalizing marijuana to the use of alcohol “as an instrument of genocide” against Native American people…
Reverend @gslivingston spoke today at a press conference with @HealthyIllinois stating that @JBPritzker's push to legalize marijuana in Illinois is a weaponization of the drug for profit. pic.twitter.com/IFI8rMrgPN
— SAM (@learnaboutsam) November 28, 2018
I could say that SAM should stop enriching violent criminal networks, but I won’t. That would be as intemperate as yesterday’s press conference. /s
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:46 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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I don’t know much about the good Reverend, but he is right about alcohol being used as a weapon against the Native American people. Still, I agree on your main points.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:01 am
I will continue to say that Marijuana legalization is a horrible idea.
From the American Lung Association.
“Smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.4-7″
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:02 am
“Anti-marijuana forces warned Wednesday that legalization will allow white corporate exploitation of minority customers, comparing its effects to those of alcohol and tobacco.”
Oh, please (h/t Rich). Racist marijuana criminalization shas been exploiting minorities for decades. Criminalization fuels organized crime, and we know the bad that has done to minorities
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:03 am
Look Rich, I don’t really agree with any of the anti-cannabis movement.
But you’ve got to admit that this issue is ripe with racial injustice. For decades we lock up brown and black bodies for pursuing profit through marijuana. Now that it is legalized, the likes of John Boehner will benefit tremendously while thousands are still in prison.
Yes, I know that they broke the law, but it is entirely consistent with the longview of American history that mostly white people will now make millions through the product by which millions of people were put into prison.
Any legalization without mass commutation of sentencing for non-violent cannabis related arrests carries the flag of systemic injustice and racial hierarchy.
Comment by ShyBoy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:03 am
===Any legalization without mass commutation===
Agreed. But that’s not what SAM is arguing for.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:05 am
===Smoke===
That’s what edibles, oils, etc… are for. Are you proposing to outlaw all tobacco sales?
To the post, other states are already taking the lead to commute sentences:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/marijuana-san-francisco-cannabis-convictions-wiped-1975-california-drugs-recreational-weed-prejudice-a8188676.html
Comment by njt16 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:06 am
Saluki, let me know when you start an organization to ban all tobacco use.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:07 am
–I will continue to say that Marijuana legalization is a horrible idea.–
And you will continue to ignore every time someone points out that smoking is not the only delivery method.
You’re a one-trick pony, and very bad at it.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:09 am
Disclaimer before comment, I have never used any mood altering substance such as Marijuana, Alcohol, Cocaine or the like so no personal horse in this race. But it’s clear no amount of law enforcement has made Marijuana go away. All it has done is drive it to the criminal business class. Legalization is the only reasonable answer. Will I start using then, nope to dope will still be my mantra.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:10 am
so which is it? that people of color use at the same rate as white folks? or that they use more and will be taken advantage of if it is legal? it can’t be one when you are against legalizing and another when you are against arrests. I’m gonna say that with edibles, the white kids will literally be eating it up.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:22 am
Momentum is clearly behind legalization. It’s more a matter of when, not if. That said, the crucial decision is HOW it will be legalized. There are a range of options in this regard.
In my opinion, those concerned about the harm from cannabis ought to participate in negotiating what kind of regulations will be imposed. Instead of wasting their time and resources fighting the inevitable, they should try to shape legalization so that public health and safety are higher priorities than profits and revenues.
Comment by anon2 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:22 am
Lots of stuff that isn’t necessarily good for us is legal. You don’t want to smoke pot? Don’t smoke pot.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:23 am
Why Colorado’s black market for marijuana is booming four years after legalization
A problem not just out of state, but also in state as well.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:23 am
I thought mass commutation was on Pritzker’s to do list. Heck, Rauner could start it if he is looking for something to do.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:24 am
Four brief points:
1. Chicago voters support legalizing marijuana. In the March 2018 primaries, the City of Chicago voted 73%-27% yes on legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 and older.
In fact, support was at least 59% in all 50 Wards. The low was 59% in Ward 14 (Ald. Burke) and the high was 87% in Ward 32 (Ald. Waguespack). Given the demographic breakdown of Chicago, it seems clear that support for legalization is high regardless of racial identification or ethnic background.
2. Nationally, African Americans are 7.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white residents, according to a study by the American Civil Liberties Union.
3. “Profit is the motive.” But isn’t profit already the motive for criminal networks who deal marijuana on the black market in addition to harder drugs? Legalizing, regulating, and taxing cannabis would make marijuana purchases and consumption safer while saving additional taxpayer dollars on incarceration, policing, and legal costs.
4. Colorado and Washington, the first states to legalize marijuana, are among the Top 10 states to which people are moving. People are speaking, and they’re saying that they don’t mind living in a state that has legal cannabis (or at least can tolerate it).
Sources…
Election Data: https://chicagoelections.com/en/election-results-specifics.asp
ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/aclu-thewaronmarijuana-rel2.pdf
Migration: https://247wallst.com/economy/2018/01/03/10-states-where-the-most-people-are-moving-and-leaving/
Comment by Frank Manzo IV Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:26 am
Correcting myself: “African Americans are 7.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.” This was Illinois-specific data. Apologies.
Comment by Frank Manzo IV Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:32 am
In the California experience, the marijuana shops face stiff development resistance in upscale cities. Endless lawsuits and other legal blockades (albeit, unique to California). In the end, the marijuana shops only end up opening up and thriving in seedy areas - usually in poorer neighborhoods with high minority populations. It is indeed similar to liquor stores. I am pro-legalization, but I understand that there are some downsides from a community impact point of view just like liquor stores.
You will see many of these shops open up on the South and West sides, run down collar suburbs, etc. You will see none in Naperville, St. Charles, the North Shore, etc.
Comment by California Guy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:02 pm
Its a plant. It should never have been illegal.
Comment by siualum Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:08 pm
=== You will see many of these shops open up on the South and West sides, run down collar suburbs, etc. You will see none in Naperville, St. Charles, the North Shore, etc. ===
I don’t know about that. Middle to upper class folks like their weed too… and they aren’t gonna stand too long for having to only go to bad neighborhoods to get their products. Their will be political pressure, once legalized, to allow shops to operate in town.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Saluki - 66% of our state think differently then you. It’s called freedom.
Comment by Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:24 pm
Right now 100% of recreational marijuana sales go to the black market. Legalizing marijuana will put a lot of money into legitimate businesses and give us tax dollars. It’s foolish and dangerous to keep allowing all the money to go underground.
There is no alcohol black market in part because it’s so widespread and available, I’d think. Maybe expanding marijuana availability would help reduce the black market. Legal marijuana is sold in limited locations, with more scrutiny and limits—having to provide ID’s, waiting to be allowed into the part of the store that has the merchandise and only being allowed to purchase limited amounts. With alcohol we can buy it at so many stores and carry carfuls of the strongest stuff.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:24 pm
Saluki - And like others have pointed out, you can eat it, drink it, vape it, etc. No one has to smoke cannabis. And if they do it still does not cause cancer like tobacco.
Comment by Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:26 pm
==You will see many of these shops open up on the South and West sides, run down collar suburbs, etc. You will see none in Naperville, St. Charles, the North Shore, etc.==
Good. Some of economically deprived places need new businesses to invest in them. Naperville will survive.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Recreational cannabis will be here soon and should be passed in the upcoming legislative period ending at the end of May. 6 months to implement. Plus home grow in part of the bill. In a year from now, it should be available at storefronts.
Comment by Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:32 pm
A large part of what may keep pot shops out of Naperville is the problems created by federal laws. But guess what–Napervilliens can drive into the city to get their pot just like they do their other drugs that should remain controlled substances.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:40 pm
5 more states could legalize cannabis recreationally in 2019 which would be a total of 15 states. More to follow after that. Federal laws will be changing in the near term (5 years or less).
Comment by Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:54 pm
=== Lots of stuff that isn’t necessarily good for us is legal. ===
Alcohol and tobacco are regulated to curb the social costs. Current tobacco regs have been successful in making smoking less and less socially acceptable, and in markedly reducing the smoking rate.
Comment by anon2 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:57 pm
“Its a plant. It should never have been illegal.”
Ever hear of the noxious weed law? See 505 ILCS 100.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:57 pm
The recreational pot law ought be done by revising the med mar law to allow recreational marijuana. The infrastructure is already setup and in place. Keep the same licensing requirements etc.
Trotting out the religious leaders is silly.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:01 pm
===Ever hear of the noxious weed law?===
And your point is what?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:02 pm
===Keep the same licensing requirements etc.===
Nope.
The licensing requirements are way too onerous as they stand now. And we shouldn’t lock in medmar producers as monopolies.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:04 pm
VMan, I thought you were against all the Nanny State stuff?
Yet when it comes to weed, you want to inflict your own personal bias on everyone.
As long as you can get your Oxy script filled, no worries, right?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Shy Boy — also, because people of color are way more likely to be arrested and convicted of drug crimes, they then have those convictions on their records — which means they aren’t allowed to apply for state licenses to grow, process, and dispense. So they’re boxed out of the big money.
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:12 pm
–The licensing requirements are way too onerous as they stand now. And we shouldn’t lock in medmar producers as monopolies.–
The clout-heavy medmar types are going to put up a heckuva scare-tactic fight, I bet you.
I think the goal should be to let a thousand buds bloom, and make it so the little guys can make a go at starting small businesses.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:14 pm
==Colorado and Washington, the first states to legalize marijuana, are among the Top 10 states to which people are moving. People are speaking, and they’re saying that they don’t mind living in a state that has legal cannabis (or at least can tolerate it).==
That’s a pretty big leap. Guessing taxes (Washington has no state income tax) has more to do with those migration numbers. California has legalized weed, yet, from the article:
“We’re also seeing continued migration to the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West as young professionals and retirees leave California.”
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:23 pm
This is such a horrible take by the Rev. Just a timely reminder that many churches, wherever they are located, and whomever their base is, have been and often are “regressive” and backwards on social issues supported by liberals such as myself.
Comment by Molly Maguire Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:23 pm
I still don’t know why the Media is so pro-legalization they refuse to report on all of the problems with the pilot program. Operators working in secret and using corporate shells to stiff contractors. Not to mention the department of allowing license transfers.
If you want to push full legalization, shed some light on the current problems with the pilot program so they can be fixed and give us a chance to make the program run clean.
Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:37 pm
It seems those still suffering from Reefer Madness may not be aware that the United States set a record last year for overdose deaths from both legal and illegal drugs.
The death toll was more than 70,000.
Take a wild guess as to how many of those were attributed to marijuana.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/29/upshot/fentanyl-drug-overdose-deaths.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:58 pm
The people that shifted millions of dollars from Higher Ed to mass racist incarceration in the 1980s & 1990s… well, I would pee on them if they were on fire.
Comment by James Knell Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:01 pm
Pot stench creating lawsuits over real estate values
Let’s stop pretending it’s going to be a win-win regarding pot.
If you don’t like second hand cigarette smoke, you’ll really be upset over pot stench.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:17 pm
My neighbor’s apartment reeks of “old man smell”. So I open the window in the stairwell when it’s nice out.
The fragrant old fellow got upset when his buddies stopped coming to the bar as often because they had weed at home. Darn that legal weed.
Comment by James Knell Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:25 pm
My family has lived in Colorado for 100 years. I know Colorado better than Illinois even though I was born here.
Impact of marijuana in Colorado - Sept 2018
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:38 pm
===The licensing requirements are way too onerous as they stand now. And we shouldn’t lock in medmar producers as monopolies.===
Agree. Making it difficult and expensive to produce marijuana is a fast track for criminal organizations to make big bucks. This is what is wrong with the “legalize it and tax the heck out of it” line.
VM posted one article of many that details how criminal organizations move in to exploit legalization. We can keep pretending that legalization will end profitability for criminals and empty our prisons or we could take a pragmatic look at Washington and Colorado and perhaps minimize those unintended consequences.
Grandson Of Man- I am not aware of a black market alcohol problem in the U.S. but our neighbors to the north have one. On a legal substance.
Few are aware that tobacco smuggling and black market tobacco are a problem in the U.S. and people go to prison for it. Also a legal substance.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, next year at this time the same number of people will be going to prison for cannabis offenses. You don’t get IDOC time for having 400 grams of weed for your own use. You go to IDOC because you had 20 pounds coming in from out of state. You go to IDOC because you got caught with a pound of weed, a Glock and 9 ounces of coke and the prosecutor dropped the possession of a controlled substance charge and let you plead guilty to the class 2,3,4 cannabis possession charge. Somehow that turns into a statistic that we are imprisoning non-violent weed users. It just isn’t so.
Comment by Winderweezle Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:41 pm
Old poster, new name. Hope that’s ok.
The Artist Formerly Known As Freezeup
Comment by Winderweezle Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:45 pm
Did you read in the latest impact report above what the actual budget haul was?
I knew it was going to be low, but not that low.
Hickenlooper paints a pretty picture, as a presidential candidate he has to, but his warning about overtaxing pot was correct, but still - less that 1%? The money gained is spent just on enforcement.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:59 pm
Or you go to IDOC because you had a small amount of weed, got parole, then did something dumb like miss an appointment or hang out with the wrong friend.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:21 pm
VMan
If you don’t like pot then don’t smoke it. Problem solved. Move on and get over it.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:24 pm
V-Man, You are widely outnumbered regarding your reefer madness views. The rest of us want more personal freedom. You know this is a priority of the governor elect don’t you?
Comment by Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:44 pm
Legalization is better than decriminalization.
Drug dealers don’t card and decrim. keeps the drug dealers in control of the marketplace and the fines from decrim. just amount to a de facto tax. Legalization is the only way for regulation and from that a place to enact whatever safety measures one wishes so that public health and safety are not compromised.
Let people grow it and consume it, make sure that communities that are disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs get an advantage to become owners in the new market when it becomes legal.
Vanillaman let’s stop pretending that prohibition works this time around. Plus the RMHIDTA is about as biased as a source gets, do you want me to forward you the legalizers refutation or will you be able to find it with your head in the sand?
Comment by frisbee Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:49 pm
O/T, but the JRTC is really acquiring a lovely er, patina as time and no cleaning catches up with the on-the-cheap exterior finishes.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:58 pm
Stop being silly. So far, I’ve posted no opinions, but just what’s being reported. The facts are the facts.
I don’t suffer from bias here. Neither does the RMHIDTA report. The facts just are.
SOS White makes similar points. He’s opposed. Not because he’s biased, but because he knows the facts and want them addressed first.
There’s no silver lining. Public opinion on pot has been dropping rapidly in the state that pioneered legalization. They’ve lived it. We need to proceed with the full knowledge they offer.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 30, 18 @ 6:07 am
V-Man - You are the one that is being silly. Cannabis is here today already. It is not a new thing being invented. Regulation is a good thing. Like I said, your views are widely outnumbered both in the state and nationally.
Comment by Illinois Resident Friday, Nov 30, 18 @ 9:52 am
Nobody is forcing anyone to use it, just because it’s made legal — again. Preach inside your tax-free church, Reverend. We who fund this state want the laws changed.
Comment by Tax Payer Friday, Nov 30, 18 @ 3:38 pm