Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Democratic candidates hoping to take on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner next year gathered on a debate stage Wednesday for the second time in 12 hours, when most of them agreed they would support legalizing marijuana in Illinois.
State Sen. Daniel Biss and entrepreneur and philanthropist J.B. Pritzker cast the issue as a matter of keeping people out of the criminal justice system, saying minorities are often subjected to harsher punishment for pot-related crimes.
“There are reasons to legalize marijuana and I favor legalization, but the reasons are less to do with revenue than they are with safety and criminal justice reform,” Pritzker said.
When minorities get busted for possessing marijuana, Biss said, “they get the book thrown at them.”
“It’s not just that they wind up with harsh consequences for a few weeks or months, there is a record that follows them for the rest of their life," the Evanston lawmaker said.
Businessman Chris Kennedy said he was “for full decriminalization,” but he also called for a study of the drug’s effects. He said research institutions like the University of Illinois should offer recommendations regarding its safety.
Madison County regional schools superintendent Bob Daiber said he would be willing to approve a law legalizing the drug “but I want a referendum that says the people passed it.” Daiber joked that he was worried about lobbyists going to Springfield with pot-laced gummy bears to convince lawmakers to approve a legalization measure. Businessman Alex Paterakis argued that the drug had already been studied plenty and that “if it was so bad for people we wouldn’t even have medical marijuana.” Paterakis suggested that as an agriculture state, Illinois could benefit from joining the pot market.
“This would be a great opportunity for our farmers to produce a new product, new cash crop.”
Just one candidate was opposed to the idea. Activist Tio Hardiman, who is on his second attempt at the Democratic nomination for governor, said he was supportive of reducing criminal penalties for people who are caught with small amounts of the drug. But he said he wasn’t sure he would “fully support” legalization because he wouldn’t want to be seen as endorsing use of the drug.
“Think about the children,” Hardiman said. “You do not want your kids driving their cars high on marijuana, impaired.”
Appearing at a forum in Mount Prospect, each candidate said he would support raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and shifting away from the current flat income tax system in favor of one that charges different rates for people at different income levels.
The candidates all agreed that the state isn’t doing an adequate job of funding schools and that property taxes are too high. They also were united in their rejection of Rauner’s proposals for addressing those problems.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Democrats Pritzker, Kennedy, Biss back legalizing marijuana in Illinois - Chicago Tribune
Author: Kim Geiger
Contact: Chicago Tribune contacts - Chicago Tribune
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Chicago Tribune: Chicago breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic
State Sen. Daniel Biss and entrepreneur and philanthropist J.B. Pritzker cast the issue as a matter of keeping people out of the criminal justice system, saying minorities are often subjected to harsher punishment for pot-related crimes.
“There are reasons to legalize marijuana and I favor legalization, but the reasons are less to do with revenue than they are with safety and criminal justice reform,” Pritzker said.
When minorities get busted for possessing marijuana, Biss said, “they get the book thrown at them.”
“It’s not just that they wind up with harsh consequences for a few weeks or months, there is a record that follows them for the rest of their life," the Evanston lawmaker said.
Businessman Chris Kennedy said he was “for full decriminalization,” but he also called for a study of the drug’s effects. He said research institutions like the University of Illinois should offer recommendations regarding its safety.
Madison County regional schools superintendent Bob Daiber said he would be willing to approve a law legalizing the drug “but I want a referendum that says the people passed it.” Daiber joked that he was worried about lobbyists going to Springfield with pot-laced gummy bears to convince lawmakers to approve a legalization measure. Businessman Alex Paterakis argued that the drug had already been studied plenty and that “if it was so bad for people we wouldn’t even have medical marijuana.” Paterakis suggested that as an agriculture state, Illinois could benefit from joining the pot market.
“This would be a great opportunity for our farmers to produce a new product, new cash crop.”
Just one candidate was opposed to the idea. Activist Tio Hardiman, who is on his second attempt at the Democratic nomination for governor, said he was supportive of reducing criminal penalties for people who are caught with small amounts of the drug. But he said he wasn’t sure he would “fully support” legalization because he wouldn’t want to be seen as endorsing use of the drug.
“Think about the children,” Hardiman said. “You do not want your kids driving their cars high on marijuana, impaired.”
Appearing at a forum in Mount Prospect, each candidate said he would support raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and shifting away from the current flat income tax system in favor of one that charges different rates for people at different income levels.
The candidates all agreed that the state isn’t doing an adequate job of funding schools and that property taxes are too high. They also were united in their rejection of Rauner’s proposals for addressing those problems.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Democrats Pritzker, Kennedy, Biss back legalizing marijuana in Illinois - Chicago Tribune
Author: Kim Geiger
Contact: Chicago Tribune contacts - Chicago Tribune
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Chicago Tribune: Chicago breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic
