- Sun-Times Media
- State representative Kelly Cassidy says legalizing marijuana is “right” for Illinois.
Marijuana legalization just entered the political mainstream in Illinois.
County commissioner John Fritchey, who organized the press conference, said they all realized that it could be several years before the state allows recreational sales and use. “If we were to introduce a legalization bill today, it would be shot down,” he said. “This is not going to happen in weeks or month, but it’s not something that’s ever going to happen if we don’t start now.”
“Public opinion moves much more quickly than legislators,” said Cassidy. But she predicted that politicians would grow more comfortable as they followed the programs underway in the western states. “And as medical marijuana moves forward [in Illinois], the sky won’t fall there either.”
Fritchey said that’s the kind of “gotcha” question that’s frightened politicians into keeping current policies in place for decades, though marijuana has been found to be less harmful than alcohol or cigarettes. It’s time for new thinking, he said.
