Poll: Should Medical Marijuana Be Legal In Illinois?

GG Smith April 23, 2012 at 03:45 pm

Here here!

GG Smith April 23, 2012 at 03:51 pm

Heres the problem... The government won't legalize it because they dont want you to be able to grow your own marijuana if you keep the seed from the medical marijuana. this being said, the government makes hundreds of billions of dollars on people who decide to pay for prescription meds. So it wont be legalized, as long as they can turn a large profit.

GG Smith April 23, 2012 at 03:53 pm

Yet cigarettes are produced after being sprayed with radioactive fertilizer on the tobbacco... what makes you think the government wont support that they grow the marijuana the same way?

GG Smith April 23, 2012 at 03:56 pm

legalize marijuana. Make profit from the sale of marijuana. make profit from the increase in jobs. Make profit from the increase in trade in the global economy. Make profit by cutting all spending on the 'war on drugs'. get the USA out of debt. Simple.

Lisa Stone April 23, 2012 at 07:42 pm

Sandra,
Throughout my entire life I have never understood how or why government blocks this natural remedy for those that are suffering. I agree with you 100% – resoundingly! I personally feel that the battle of Medical Marijuana is actually barbaric. It is so tragic that we have banned natural marijuana, which is proven to relieve and help human beings that are suffering with ailments that you reference above.

Scrapper4955 April 23, 2012 at 07:51 pm

Ummm, people? News flash - it already IS legal in Illinois. Subject came up at my dinner table so I googled it. Great article I'm the Reader dated April 8, 2010. Law was passed in 1978. Thing is, it was passed with two catches - dept of human services was allowed to give doctors authority to prescribe, not required to (and they haven't) and DHS could act "only with the written approval of the department of state police." I'm quoting the article when it goes on to say the two departments had to create new policies before medical marijuana could be prescribed, and to this day neither has. So your beef is with the state police, who claims they're waiting for dept. of human services.

Scrapper4955 April 23, 2012 at 07:53 pm

Here's the link to the article: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/medical-marijuana-pot-illinois-cannabis-control-act-legalization/Content?oid=1629059

Sandra Levin May 3, 2012 at 12:20 pm

Unless you've lived with a situation like yours, and our family is in a similar boat you just don't know how it feels and how this would help. I'm so sorry for your son and the pain that your family is experiencing. Please, write your lawmakers and tell them your story. The vote last November was almost there, except for one Senator that likened marijuana to heroine, obviously he doesn't have a clue but we have to convince these elected officials of the needs of the citizens.

Malcolm Kyle May 4, 2012 at 10:00 am

Listen to these high ranking narcotics officers expose the harms and waste of the drug war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc
The World Health Organization Documents Failure of U.S. Drug Policies - according to the world's leading substance abuse researchers, the US has the highest rates of marijuana and cocaine use. http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/90295/ Cannabis Reduces Infant Mortality: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june272010/marijuana-infants-sc.php - The "cannabis" infants have a mortality rate almost half of what the "No drugs" infants have! If you want to know how far the federal government will go to promote its mendacious anti-marijuana message read this: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/03/31/magazines Protestant, Catholic and Jewish Clergy Speak Out Against The War On Drugs: http://www.csdp.org/news/news/clergydvd.htm Free online book: The Emperor Wears No Clothes:http://www.jackherer.com/chapter01.html Here's a documentary about marijuana curing cancer. There are 7 parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw If you still doubt that marijuana is good medicine then kindly check out Granny Storm Crow's Amazing MMJ Reference List: http://www.letfreedomgrow.com/cmu/GrannysList-Jan2011.pdfIt’s more like a library than a list!

Richard Call May 25, 2012 at 06:06 pm

@ John. We have the two most common drugs on the market now. Cigarettes and alcohol. And they are the two major causes of death in this country. Police get calls every night on domestic disturbances caused by alcohol. Marijuana does not normally involve violence. To say that Marijuana is retarding our country's progress is very hypothetical at best. Much of the finest art, music, and design come from those using it and it has been used since B.C. You are just wasting tax payers money and making criminals out of people who are not. Did you not learn anything from prohibition years? Alcohol consumption went up! Grow a brain and get smart.

Pops June 29, 2012 at 10:46 pm

I beleave it should be leagal becaue it help alot of sick people. Dont know if you know this or not but of rite now there are facts out that support that it can be benifical.. But because its illigal there are alot of people that cant have the access to it that could help the quility of life... I think it sux that people that have no clue of what its like to live with a debilitating illness can pass judgment with out knowing at least some of the facts...I agree with Jen and Local
"Alcohol, tabacco, Prozac, Zanex, Cymbalta, Paxil, Zoloft, Vicoden, Oxycontin, Percoset are all "gateway drugs" and readily available in most American homes, probably even yours. Keeping marijuana illegal, knowing of all the benefits it has (the Hemp plant in general), is just keeping you're head planted firmly in the sand!"

Pops June 29, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Very well said Sandra

Pops June 29, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Well put

Pops June 29, 2012 at 11:00 pm

God Bless

Jeff Meiborg July 15, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Are you really saying that all the people are all ready smoking it, get real. So if your mother or father had a medical cond. that smoking would help you wouldn't want them to get the help they could use. Have you seen some of the side affects of most of the medician out there. I'm on dissability and beleive that it would help but I'm not out there buying it cause who wants to go to jail.

Granite Colors August 1, 2012 at 08:58 am

It's good to hear both sides on this. I'm on the fence about it. Tried pot once, hated it but have seen others benefit medically.

john wayne phillips November 7, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Should be up to us the people of the united states. This is suppost to be the land of the free people choose to drink alcohol. We
should have the choice " the freedom " to smoke marijuana but then they couldn't put that money in their pocket man some people are just plain stupid to think marijuana is bad. Spending all that money on pot is a waste use the money to fight the Meth and cocaine those are the drugs that kill people and make people do stupid shit. NOT MARIJUANA

david hernandez November 28, 2012 at 07:18 pm

I think marijuana should be legalized. The government is based on a government that allows the people to vote for their laws, not an oligarchy which in this case are the senators and congress men. There are no drugs that a lab puts in marijuana because its all natural out of mother earth. If a lab enhanced marijuan with all sorts of amphetamines and messed up chemicals found in cocaine, heroin, ciggarettes, alcohol etc. then you can classify it as an illegal and harmfull drug. You cannot possibly overdose on marijuana unless you smoke your own body weight within an hour. There are only a few cases were a person is allergic to marijuana and throws up and gets nauseus. But there are no real harmfull effects, it doesnt lower your lung capacity like ciggs. It doesnt kill your brain like ecstasy. Its dumb that its illegal just because someone says its bad for you when they dont know what there talking about. I am a resident of illinois and i have been smoking marijuana since ive been 16 and i have never experienced any problems with my lungs and i am in the best shape of my life. I am a toned man. please come out to vote every vote counts and we can really change the law if we try.

John C Thomson November 28, 2012 at 08:28 pm

Of course the people who smoke pot want to legalize it. Duh!! You trying to say marijuana doesn't have a bad side is ridiculous. And one more thing, just because you say its so, doesn't make it so. I have heard this argument for 40 years and you haven't improved your position one iota.

Oliver P. McCracken November 28, 2012 at 09:00 pm

Why all this infernal fuss about "mary-juana," or whatever it is called? It is only "smoked" by those scoundrels playing "jazz" music, anyway.
Where would our fine sailors be if we outlawed the use of hemp for their steamships' many lanyards and cords? What we MUST banish, however, is the fruit of the vine, the Dutchman's courage, the White Man's burden, that foul quaff'd Nepenthe -- Alcohol! So, follow me, lads, in supporting Andy Volstead, Ms. Frances Willard, Pussyfoot Johnson, Ernest Cherrington, and their ilk. Three cheers for the 18th Amendment! A terminus to crime, squalor, drunkenness, and sloth will it surely deliver!

millie November 28, 2012 at 09:48 pm

CHECK FACTS INSTEAD OF I HAVE HEARD

John C Thomson November 28, 2012 at 10:02 pm

So what you were really doing Shawn was setting someone up to be abused and you really weren't looking for a balanced response after all. Marijuana is a waste, whatever else you could choose to spend your disposable money on you spent it on reefer. families go without medicine and food and clothing so you can go smoke your pot. Marijuana is a selfish desire to satisfy your personal desires at the expense of being a productive citizen and helping somebody else. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Shawn November 28, 2012 at 11:17 pm

Actually, I was looking for a response. I just didn't see the emails about it so I wasn't aware that anyone had actually responded until today. That being said, don't blame me for the responses your comments elicited.
I'm so tired of people like you who swear that our society is in ruins. Our country is not "a mess", as you so snidely put it. Yes, humanity has its problems, but part of why it seems more prevalent is because we are now fully into the information age. That plus the 24 hour news cycle makes it seem like there is non-stop crime. In reality, our society is getting better at being a functional society as a whole. Gay marriage, racial issues, women's rights, and even labor laws are all making great strides. We'd been even further along if the politicians weren't such easily corruptible people, and even further than that if the entire Republican leadership wasn't a bunch of obstructionists. Marijuana is not a gateway drug. If that is true then couldn't cigarettes be considered a gateway to marijuana? Couldn't water be considered a gateway to alcohol? Now I don't agree that marijuana is harmless, but so what? Since when did it become okay for the government to legislate morality? I know they do it all the time, but that doesn't make it okay.

Shawn November 28, 2012 at 11:17 pm

Also, who are you to tell me how to spend my disposable money? It's my money. How can you be so sure that I even smoke pot? I didn't know that other families were starving and not receiving medical treatment because I wasn't spending all of my extra money donating. Oh that's right, you don't know how much of my time and/or money goes to helping other people.
You are the epitome of a prejudiced person. You know nothing about me, yet are quite comfortable judging me from the safety of your computer. You assume that I smoke pot and you assume that smoking pot is tantamount to being a bad person.

Just Sayin November 29, 2012 at 12:55 am

Oliver P. Sir...you are a hoot !!! I totally enjoy all your comments in the various threads. Keep 'em coming....they keep me smiling!

Oliver P. McCracken November 29, 2012 at 02:07 am

Thank you, kind sir. 'twas a pleasant surprise, indeed, to have happened upon this upstanding periodical! Its pert young typists and conscientious copyboys must be quite proud of their employ.
I was tempted to comment on The Patch's recent review of the "moving-picture" interpretation of Anna Karenina, a contemporary publication by my Borscht-slurping acquaintance, Lev Tolstoy, but had to abjure upon realizing the theatrical critiquette inaugurated her piece by making mention of her ladysome virtue. Next time, perhaps!

LiLSuzQ32 November 29, 2012 at 02:36 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPoZX7ILfwc
Make sure you watch until you see the "credits" at the end ;)

steven wright March 7, 2013 at 04:47 am

on my own opinion...being from a legalized medicinal state ( keep in mind i found this site by accident in the pure intention of finding information on my own state) and having my medical card it hlps alot i wrk 10 plus hrs every day and pay my taxes but with my symptoms its a better drug than any other form of drug i have used which include zoloft, lithium, buspar, depakote, zanax , or klonipin not including th pain meds....in the end it is a substance nobody is used to. in regards to the goverment leagalizing it, its going to happen regardless of how any one person may feel about it with as many states that have legalized it its just a matter of time. now with that being said this country is always crying about how broke we are and how much we are in debt now you take a substane that has a multi-billion dollar potetial and govermnt sanction it allow the medical users to continue to produce their own now you hae a steady revenue that will eventually take us out of debt assuming the govement can quit buying 60,000 dollar vehicles every yr.and dont say they dont because i work for ford i see the gov. trucks and know how much they cost so in the end its still a way for this country to adapt and grow you worry about abuse?? multiple drugs are abused everyday being illegle doesnt make a difference

steven wright March 7, 2013 at 04:54 am

on another note if california legalized it for rec. use do you relize the cartles import business just got cut by 30% now you legalize the whole sw the cartel goes broke the only import would be cocain not to mention our prisons population gets cut in half now YOUR TAX MONEY goes to something important instead of feeding inmates in for a stupid plant the goverment outlawed to increase tobacco profits in the 30's

Procrustes' Foil March 7, 2013 at 10:09 am

People are always attracted to what they can't have - the forbidden fruit. So, if weed is legalized, it looses its attraction and becomes just another commodity that we can choose to use or not use. The arguments in favor of legalization far outweigh the arguments against legalization. GO WEED!