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* Westchester chief of police Steve Stelter spoke at an anti-cannabis legalization press conference today…

I’m here to address you today. I want to tell you that the people who are pushing this bill are feeding you a bunch of baloney is what they’re doing. They’re pulling the wool over your eyes.

This bill, the way it stands right now is absolutely terrible. I can’t understand and law enforcement can’t understand how they allow people to grow this stuff in their homes.

As Rep. Moylan said, how are we going to possibly regulate five plants? There is absolutely no way. These people will tell you that ‘Well, now that we can buy it legally, that’ll compete with the cartels and the black market.’

Wrong. The black market increases when legalized marijuana comes in. Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.

They buy homes, dilapidated homes, foreclosed homes and they turn them into marijuana factories. And they sell this stuff in the neighborhoods. How can you possibly allow home grow? We don’t understand it.

Growing more than five plants would still be illegal. And if the neighbors and the Westchester police can’t figure out that a dilapidated, formerly vacant house has been turned into a marijuana factory with dozens of Chinese drug cartel employees working night and day, I just don’t know what to say, except those cartels could do all of that today if they wanted. It’s not like they follow the law.

…Adding… Press release…

In response to the recent press conference held by Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Legalize Illinois issued the following statement:

“Today’s distortions from our opponents are just more of the same from an organization that takes money from big tobacco and pretends to have the best interests of Illinoisans in mind. SAM would like to hold back progress on smart, sensible and equitable adult-use cannabis legalization even though the majority of the public supports legalization. Their false claims do not have the best interests of the public in mind. The truth is, the legislation that was just introduced is the most responsible and inclusive bill in the nation, developed by peer-reviewed research and input from stakeholders to create the most equitable and regulated industry in the nation.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:29 pm

Comments

===Wrong. The black market increases when legalized marijuana comes in. Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.===

I’d really like to know where the esteemed Westchester Chief of Police is getting this science from. It’s pretty common knowledge know that most major studies have shown that the legalization and regulation of marijuana drastically cuts into cartel territory.

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:32 pm
“Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.”

Modern day reefer madness. How much longer until we get a Helen Lovejoy-esque, “Won’t somebody think of the children!?”

Comment by Dee Lay Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:34 pm
–Wrong. The black market increases when legalized marijuana comes in.–

Huh. Was that the case when the Volstead Act was repealed? Bootlegging just took off?

Did the illegal Policy Wheel numbers game grow when the Lottery was started?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:35 pm
I’m a retired police officer, and I’ve been a strong proponent of marijuana legalization for years. The Chief’s comments remind me of the quote by Upton Sinclair:

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

Comment by NW Suburb Joe Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:38 pm
Steve really?
Your little speech is ridiculous.
It seems you’re bitter about the loss of revenue to your department this represents.
Isn’t that your real problem.
I bet you do a brisk business busting folks for pot and your departments shake down is gonna suffer.
Or is it that you won’t get to bust the majority people of color for weed anymore?
Maybe we should investigate your departments stats
Maybe that’s where we should put the attention
Not on regular folks growing 5 plants.
I’m getting a creepy fascist vibe.
Cool it on the Fox news
and focus on the good of your community.
Not on regular folk growing 5 plants.

Sorry to be kinda ugly on this
but you rubbed Honeybear the wrong way.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:40 pm
Full disclosure: I worked for a minute as a consultant for a company that tried (and failed) to win one of Illinois’ medical cultivation licenses. I visited some cultivation facilities and medical dispensaries in Oregon, before they legalized recreational weed. I was immediately struck by the sheer…normalcy of it. I really wish people in my former profession would lose the reefer madness rhetoric and move on.

Comment by NW Suburb Joe Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:42 pm
Take away the penalties for possession or smoking marijuana and the grant money used to combat it dries up. Less money for law enforcement. Follow the money.

Comment by Boat captain Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:47 pm
But, Rich, they enter your world.

Comment by lakeside Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:47 pm
“Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.”

Do none of the predominantly white criminal syndicates want in on the boom that legalization allegedly provide? Seriously, that line is about two steps above calling them jazz cigarettes.

Comment by Nuke the Whales Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:50 pm
===Westchester chief of police Steve Stelter====

It has been awhile since I have been in Westchester, but if memory serves even though mostly Democratic it is a very conservative town. Hence Stelter’s reaction.

===I can’t understand and law enforcement can’t understand how they allow people to grow this stuff in their homes====

Seriously??? I think someone commented on a related post yesterday that getting cannabis has never been an issue.

Albeit underground, it has been fairly mainstream for decades or longer. I have know old and young friends and relatives that have been smoking cannabis going back decades.

Sheriff Stelter, click your heels three times and you will be back in Pleasantville by morning. The rest of us live in reality.

Comment by Big Jer Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:55 pm
==Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.==

And after that, it’s the Irish (exclamation point)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWcVoX0QDyA

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:57 pm
Henry Francis- entschuldigung bitte, we German folk are going to dominate this black market industry. Irish….please….They’ve got nothing on German efficiency and engineering.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:04 pm
Sure seems like some of the local law enforcement types are getting increasingly nervous that the end is nigh for the asset forfeiture gravy train

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:04 pm
I always heard that police always have the best pot. Sounds like the Chief might be worried about the competition.

Comment by don the legend Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:12 pm
Ham handed swipe at the lowest hanging bologna.

Comment by vole Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:13 pm
===How much longer until we get a Helen Lovejoy-esque===

He talked about the children later.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:13 pm
“how are we going to possibly regulate five plants? There is absolutely no way.”

If you’re that incompetent you need to quit being a cop. The public is not safe with you armed, Barney Fife.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:26 pm
5 plants could be a large crop and take up a lot of space. These things can be very, very large.

Still, a lot of drama here. Westchester is a great community of good people. Plenty of diversity, plenty of long time residents who live together in very nice harmony. If someone buys a house, or rents one, solely for this purpose, the Neighborhood Watch there will react quickly and decisively. Local ordinances can prevent a neighborhood house from becoming a mini pot plantation there. Or anywhere else.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:34 pm
“how are we going to possibly regulate five plants?”

The same way the every other police officer does: though probable cause. This guy is the Chief? If a cadet asked how are we possibly going to regulate 6 crappie or 12 bluegill, my guess is they wouldn’t even make it out of the academy.

Comment by Kayak Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:37 pm
“a bunch of baloney” translation: I voted for Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Kayak Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:41 pm
“how are we going to possibly regulate five plants?”

Require home growers to register with local authorities and allow periodic access to verify compliance with state law and local health and safety ordinances.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:45 pm
Against any legal home grown pot. “how are we going to possibly regulate five plants? There is absolutely no way”. My opinion also.

For legalization of personal use only. What amount constitutes personal use should have serious discussion.

Should be sold in businesses tightly regulated by the state- maybe even state owned.

Still want an effective, immediate test for drug impairment that is fair to the individual and the public. We do not need more impaired drivers on the road, we already have to many.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:51 pm
Follow up:

If cannabis fails to pass then there must be an alternative bill to at least decriminalize personal small possession amounts.

We can not continue to flood the prisons with people who are using it personally and not selling it.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:57 pm
Decriminalization was signed by Bruce Rauner several years ago. It clearly is not good enough or what the public wants.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:01 pm
Just another uninformed person spewing information and some people will listen because they are in a position of authority.

Most people see the dumbness though.

Comment by The Dude Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:09 pm
Yes, it is a Class C misdemeanor but even that is too much for personal possession.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:09 pm
Ah yes, the cartels have just been waiting for us to legalize it so they can begin their pot-growing operations.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:12 pm
It’s a well known economic principle that Cartels thrive in Perfect Markets (lots of producers with low barriers to entry), where they can totally collude to raise the price above market and extract rent. Super profitable for them. Especially the ones that are going to be highly regulated.

Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:14 pm
–It’s a well known economic principle that Cartels thrive in Perfect Markets (lots of producers with low barriers to entry), where they can totally collude to raise the price above market and extract rent. Super profitable for them.–

I wonder what any of that means.

Where’s the bootleg hooch cartel thriving these days? I can’t find any.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:36 pm
Have you supporters of cannabis legalization called your legislators yet?

I guarantee your legislators are getting pounded right now with calls and emails from Sabet’s pearl-clutchers and law enforcement lobbyists.

If you want this thing to pass, you had better reach out and make your wishes known.

Comment by sulla Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:37 pm
His rants about the cartels sound exactly like the reasons marijuana was criminalized for in the first place, racism.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:51 pm
Word, I think Chris meant “perfectly competitive” markets, and I think it was sarcasm. No market power for any individual sellers in a perfectly competitive market, irrespective of market share. Sellers are price takers.

With that, I don’t think home growing makes pot a perfectly competitive market any more than the ability to home brew makes beer a perfectly competitive market or the ability to have a garden makes all produce a perfectly competitive market. I would assume commercial growers will be able to brand and differentiate, and most people won’t want to grow their own anyway.

Comment by Stormfield Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:51 pm
“It’s pretty common knowledge know that most major studies have shown that the legalization and regulation of marijuana drastically cuts into cartel territory.”

Could you reference the studies? I’d like to take a look at them. Thanks.

Comment by Jeff Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:52 pm
I think William Blake summed this up well:
“The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”

Comment by Dancin' Bears Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:53 pm
*City of Westchester buys new fleet vehicles for Police*

*Police Chief finds out funds to buy new police vehicles came from Marijuana*

*Boycotts New vehicles and continues to drive 2007 model*

Comment by Almost the weekend Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 4:58 pm
== how are we going to possibly regulate five plants==

You aren’t because it will be legal to have five plants. Perhaps focusing on crimes that have a victim would serve the people of Westchester better than having the Chief of Police focus on counting plants.

Comment by Kentucky Bluegrass x Featherbed Bent x Northern California Sinsemilla Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:00 pm
==you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels (and) the Chinese drug cartels enter your world==

Not to worry. I saw Steven Seagal take care of them in only one night. Tell Stetler to put in a call to Maricopa County, Arizona

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:03 pm
Sorry Word, I forgot the /s. Storm found it for me though.

And yeah, it’s not a perfectly competitive market, but the barriers to entry are pretty low. My guess is that the price will be A:Regulated and B:fairly transparent. Both conditions are fairly hostile to any sort of Cartel action.

Meaning, if any international criminal organization really wants to start grow operations to finance their activities, they’d be better off doing it with other drugs. Ones with more opaque price mechanisms, where they can more easily control the supply.

Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:06 pm
“cartels could do all of that today if they wanted. It’s not like they follow the law.”

Sounds like a similar argument against gun control laws…

Comment by Unpopular Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:06 pm
…catchin’ my breath…just got back from recon duty in my neighborhood…checked a couple of dilapidated houses for evidence of foreign looking porch people…didn’t see any sneaky looking foreign types…not that good at distinguishing Jamaicans from the other porch people…but I can identify Asian types pretty good…but probably not as good as The Chief…or Marty Moylan…they seem to have lots of experience.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:11 pm
- Nonbeleiver - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 3:57 pm:

Follow up:

If cannabis fails to pass then there must be an alternative bill to at least decriminalize personal small possession amounts.

We can not continue to flood the prisons with people who are using it personally and not selling it.

You are so kind to the pot criminal’s you would approve of punishing….Button up your shirt…your heart is fallin’ out.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:21 pm
==Sounds like a similar argument against gun control laws…== Sounds like any other argument against prohibition. I guess the money the local drug dealer loses in marijuana sales he can make up in abortion pills.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:38 pm
I watched the video on facebook. Comical. Reporters were questioning them at the end on logic and they could not answer the questions.

Comment by Illinois Resident Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 8:09 pm
And dont forget about the weed pirates. They’re always after me lucky buds.

Comment by Generic Drone Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 8:14 pm
Do we pay police chiefs to weigh-in behind a SAM banner like this? Serious question.

Comment by XonXoff Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 8:31 pm
Agree XonXoff. Also, you would think our public servants would acknowledge and respect the fact that 66% of the citizens of our state want cannabis legalized.

Comment by Illinois Resident Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:03 pm
“I just don’t know what to say, except those cartels could do all of that today if they wanted. It’s not like they follow the law.”

That is correct. Criminals don’t follow the law. Remember that on the next gun control bill.

Comment by Tired of Both Parties Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:19 pm
Scared that they have to start going after real criminals instead of people that use cannabis. Im not worried about people smoking it but I am worried about the amount of people that get away with meth and heroin. Go after them and their dealers, sure its more dangerous but thats you job, not harassing people.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 9, 19 @ 2:52 am
==That is correct. Criminals don’t follow the law. Remember that on the next gun control bill.==

That’s true for each and every law. So why even bother with laws and jails and cops and courts stuff?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, May 9, 19 @ 8:37 am
He was one of the panelists at the NPR Illinois panel on legalization efforts hosted at Anvil and Forge last week. The woman that was there with him was handing out free books on the dangers of marijuana. My thirteen-year-old has been reading it, and finds it hilariously entertaining. She’s read some of it to me and it’s pretty much the readable version of Reefer Madness. Some people just can’t let go of the past.

Comment by Harvest76 Thursday, May 9, 19 @ 10:48 am