Tim Ryan's passion is hard to contain. Since announcing last month the start of the Opiate Recovery Group here in the Fox Valley, the businessman and former heroin addict has received nothing but positive feedback about his aggressive attempts to "help one addict at a time." But it's the one he recently lost that's "fueling my fire" even more. Around 7 a.m. Friday, the 45-year-old Naperville man and his ex-wife Shannon rushed to Hinsdale Hospital after receiving news their 20-year-old son had overdosed in a home in Darien. [continues 592 words]
The City of Elgin deserves a round of applause for taking a pro-active approach to setting up zoning regulations for medical marijuana distribution. Even though the state of Illinois is still setting up the rules, Elgin is not waiting around for problems to occur because they were not ready to provide safe and legal access to those legally allowed to use medical marijuana. The State of Illinois was the 19th to pass a medical marijuana bill. It created a four-year pilot program for patients who are suffering from painful and terminal diseases to use marijuana. [continues 332 words]
In response to Judy Kreamer's letter (Dec. 28) about medical marijuana, it should be understood that many of those admissions to treatment centers for marijuana are the result of a judge offering jail time or rehab and are not voluntary admissions by people who feel they are addicted to marijuana. Also, her fears about children getting access to this medicine are unfounded, as there has never been a documented overdose fatality from marijuana use, for medical purposes or otherwise. If she is concerned about children getting access to medicine that is truly dangerous, the pill-mill doctors who recklessly prescribe opioid based painkillers are where she should focus. Those pills are in many medicine cabinets across the country and have been the main reason so many young people are dying from drugs in suburban America. [continues 262 words]
Marijuana is a drug that cripples; and if the medical marijuana bill passes, it will cripple thousands of youth. In Illinois, 15,759 marijuana users were admitted for treatment in 2010 - 36.4 percent were 12-17 years old. The medical marijuana bill allows 18-year-olds - high school seniors - - to purchase medical marijuana cards. The card entitles them to buy 21/2 ounces of marijuana every 14 days; 21/2 ounces makes 183 joints. This bill is an invitation to drug use and dealing in high schools. Each year, two-thirds of new marijuana users are under the age of 18. Additionally, more high school seniors smoked marijuana than smoked cigarettes, according to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey. The legislature's action sends the message to teenagers that marijuana is safe. [continues 135 words]
In just a short time, Illinois will decide if we will follow the 14 other compassionate states that have done the humane thing in allowing for the use of medical marijuana to ease the pain and suffering of the truly ill. Too many people have died in pain, and many have died due to side effects or overdose caused by drugs that were legally prescribed to help them. Two of my family members died of liver complications, in part from taking these legally prescribed medications. [continues 140 words]
ELGIN -- Michigan recently became the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. Illinois may not be far behind. Senate Bill 1381 would allow seriously ill patients with certain debilitating conditions to use medical marijuana without consequence of arrest, and would provide for the patient's primary caregiver to legally possess no more than seven dried cannabis plants and two ounces of dried usable cannabis. A House version of the bill passed March 4. Bruce Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, said he expects the Senate vote to take place within the next three weeks. [continues 575 words]
Maybe the story got a little too much play in the newspaper. Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti -- along with Sheriff Pat Perez and many, many others -- constantly have been trying to make room in the county jail. That Barsanti would push to hire a full-time attorney devoted to identifying low-risk inmates for bond reductions shouldn't have come as such a big surprise. The move makes good sense, and I applaud him for making it. Don't worry folks -- he's still the law-and-order guy you elected. [continues 406 words]
Drug Problem Cited, but Village Board Is Wary HAMPSHIRE -- This village has a growing drug problem, and one key to fighting that would be to add a four-legged patrolman to the police force, Police Officer James Neblock told the village board's public safety committee last week. Neblock and Police Chief Thomas Atchison proposed buying a dog and sending it and one officer through police K-9 training. Once trained, the canine could smell out hidden illegal drugs and defend its handler, other officers and the public from threatening people. [continues 567 words]
I would like to thank state Sen. Michael Noland for taking a stand to protect Illinois patients and co-sponsoring Senate Bill 2865. Senate Bill 2865 and its partner bill, House Bill 5938, would protect medical cannabis patients in Illinois. HB 5938 is sponsored by a Republican, so hopefully this vital issue will not get caught up in partisan politics. If passed, the Illinois Department of Public Health would administer the medical cannabis program and to qualify, patients would need written certification from a doctor to obtain a state-issued medical cannabis identification card, which must be renewed at regular intervals. [continues 104 words]
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- In Sue Sullivan's health class, she teaches students about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. But instead of just telling the children how drugs can ruin a life, Sullivan took that lesson a step further Friday, taking half of the Central Middle School seventh-graders to the Kane County Drug Court. The students were able not only to hear as dozens of drug offenders appeared before the judge, but also to see how drugs hurt individual lives. [continues 572 words]
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- Fresh from a two-month stint in rehab, the teenager had a good outlook. "I've learned I was an addict and I was not only hurting myself but others in my life," he said. "Drug court has been better than I thought it would be." He told 16th Circuit Judge Wiley W. Edmondson that he feels ready to move on with his life in a positive way. The teen said he was looking for a job and planned to enroll at a local community college in January. [continues 451 words]
Juvenile Drug Court Gives Teen A Chance To Reclaim Her Life ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- At age 11, Lexie tried drugs for the first time. The drugs robbed her of an entire childhood, she said. She became a "street kid" who, wandering around at all hours, felt alienated from her family and committed crimes to feed her habit. Lexie -- who gave birth to a son last spring -- landed in juvenile court and has spent years on probation. On this day, Lexie reclaimed her life. [continues 815 words]
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- There's no need to turn on Judge Judy or The People's Court to get a different kind of courtroom experience. Just head down to Kane County Drug Rehabilitation Court. Nearly a year after former drug court Judge James Doyle -- heralded as a hero by some but called a tyrannical bully by others -- left the program, drug court still is enjoying a lot of success under Judge Bill Weir. Sitting in on Weir's proceedings for a morning, it's not difficult for one to see why so many people call it a forward-thinking program. [continues 1012 words]
Williams Signs On: Sheriff Candidate Backs Effort to Sue Members In Court The Republican candidate for Kane County sheriff on Tuesday threw his support behind an initiative to seize gang members' assets in civil court. "By seizing the assets of gang members we will be able to eliminate their ability to operate in Kane County," said Kevin Williams, flanked by top law enforcement officials at a press conference Tuesday at The Centre of Elgin. "As Kane County sheriff, I will make it explicitly clear that gangs are not welcomed in our community." [continues 501 words]
ELGIN -- Fourteen-year-old Raul Armenta dreams of becoming a pilot. The soft-spoken Ellis Middle School eighth-grader takes honors geometry, loves playing soccer and -- in his own words -- gives back to the community through community service. Armenta has no time to get tangled with drugs and gangs. "Gangs (are) dumb," Armenta said softly Thursday afternoon when he and several classmates sat down to discuss the negative effects of drug use."I don't think you should listen to someone else ... In gangs you can't go where you want. They talk you into a lot of stuff."This week, schools across the country are celebrating Red Ribbon Week, an anti-drug campaign aimed at educating children of all ages about the dangers of using drugs -- including alcohol -- and participating in violent behavior. [continues 513 words]
SPRINGFIELD -- Irvin Rosenfeld on Thursday expected to do his moral duty by testifying before Illinois lawmakers on the benefits of smoking marijuana for a painful genetic bone disorder. He didn't expect to be detained by Illinois Secretary of State Police for bringing in his tin of about 150 federally approved joints. Call it an example of "show and tell" gone bad. The 51-year-old stockbroker from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., appeared in front of the House Human Services Committee in support of House Bill 407. Sponsored by Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, the proposal would legalize marijuana use for residents with debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or AIDS. [continues 545 words]
