Medical marijuana bill is flawed

This letter pertains to Senate Bill 1381 about legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes in the State of Illinois. I am not writing to debate whether cannabis should be used for medicinal purposes. I am writing to share our coalition's view of the legislation and to educate our community about the dangers of the proposed legislation as written.

If approved, this bill will allow large amounts of an unmonitored and unregulated drug in our community and provide access for our youth. Supporters frame the issue around the need to decriminalize marijuana use for terminally ill patients, providing a safe and legal path to their medicine. However, there are major gaps in the bill, particularly the lack of controls.

In the proposal, each person with a prescription can possess six cannabis plants but only three mature plants for a 60-day period. In just two months, three mature plants can produce 1,764 joints - that's 29 joints per day.

The top five states in the nation with the highest percentage of kids age 12 to 17 using marijuana in the past month are all medical marijuana states. The four states with the highest rates of new marijuana users age 12 to 17 are also medical marijuana states. Are we OK with our kids going down this road?

Medicinal cannabis should be dispensed through legal medical dispensaries such as pharmacies, as is the practice with other prescribed medications. Our coalition partners are united on this issue. If we say nothing, we can expect to see marijuana plants growing in neighbors' backyards, marijuana dispensaries popping up in storefronts, and a real potential for increased crime and substance abuse among our youth. Use your voice and step up now.

Margaret Polovchak

Director Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation (MCYAF)

Des Plaines