Pubdate: Fri, 06 Mar 2015
Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL)
Copyright: 2015 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182
Author: Debbie Leininger

MARIJUANA A LETHAL LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Two marijuana bills are now being considered in the Illinois State
Senate and Illinois House.

The Cannabis Penalties Bill, HB 218, introduced by Rep. Kelly Cassidy,
D-Chicago, and co-sponsored by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana/Champaign,
and Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, would replace criminal penalties
with a $100 fine. The bill would eliminate the possibility of arrest
and jail time with offenders caught possessing up to 30 grams of
marijuana. Offenders would be issued a $100 "=C2=80=C2=9CUniform Cannabis=

Ticket"=C2=80=C2=9D and charged with a petty offense. Mandatory drug
rehabilitation classes are not included with the reduced sentences.

SB 735 was introduced in the State Senate by Michael Noland, D-22. The
Cannabis-Possession Adults bill would legalize the possession by a
person 21 years of age or older of cannabis in an amount not to exceed
30 grams as well as permit the production and possession of not more
than five cannabis sativa plants. This would make Illinois the fifth
state to legalize marijuana.

Although public opinion favors legalizing marijuana, recent findings
by the health community warn about increased risks of the drug once
considered "=C2=80=C2=9Charmless."=C2=80=C2=9D As the most widely used il=
licit drug,
chronic marijuana usage has been associated with mental illness and
can affect brain development in young adults. One of six children who
use marijuana are likely to become addicted and also use heroin or
other potent substances.

Legalization can be expected to increase marijuana consumption by four
to six times. States that have legalized marijuana show an increase in
traffic accidents by marijuana users as well as lethal overdoses of
the substance. Marijuana contains 50-70 percent more cancer-causing
substances than tobacco smoke. Marijuana of today is not the same drug
it was in the 1960s. The levels of the psychoactive ingredient
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can be five times stronger. Legalizing
30 grams of marijuana and five cannabis plants appears to be harmless.

However, a statistic revealed by the Illinois Family Institute states:
Thirty grams of marijuana make 75 joints. The street value of one gram
is $10. Five plants can produce 1,120 grams of marijuana, enough to
make 2,800 joints and the street value is approximately $11,200. Is
this the legacy Illinois wants for its future generations? Contact
your state representative and state senator. Tell them to vote no on
HB 218 and SB 735. Legislator information can be found at
illinois.gov.

Debbie Leininger of Freeport is state director of Concerned Women for
America.