MEDICAL MARIJUANA A SLIPPERY SLOPE

House Republican Leader Tom Cross recently announced that he now
supports HB 30, the medical marijuana legalization bill. This is very
disconcerting. Marijuana activists are working hard to decriminalize
marijuana and impede the U.S. anti-drug policy. The first step is for
medical use.

Does Cross think the Illinois General Assembly should circumvent the
medical and scientific experts at the Federal Drug Administration?
Should state lawmakers ignore the many warnings by federal authorities
like the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Drug Enforcement
Agency? Should lawmakers ignore the law enforcement community
objections, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and
Illinois Sheriffs' Association, among others? Federal drug laws
supersede state laws. HB 30 would create a licensing scheme contrary
to federal law, making property owners, landlords and citizens liable
to federal action. Lastly, Illinois lawmakers shouldn't disregard
Illinois's DUI laws. HB 30 allows a medical marijuana patient to
operate a motor vehicle after six hours of consuming marijuana, while
research shows that a single joint with a moderate level of THC can
impair a person's ability to drive for more than 24 hours!

Medical marijuana is bad policy, bad for families, bad for society,
and will cost the state more money for drug rehab.

David E. Smith

Executive Director, Illinois Family Institute, Carol Stream