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Des Plaines police chief opposes medical marijuana bill

Chiefs of police in three suburban communities — Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Niles — issued a statement voicing concerns about a medical marijuana bill approved in the Illinois House that the Senate could vote on as early as Wednesday.

House Bill 0001, labeled the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, goes against work the police departments and the communities have done educating students and parents about drug use and potential pitfalls and addictions, the statement said.

Des Plaines Police Chief Bill Kushner, Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski and Niles Police Chief Dean Strzelecki listed “high” lights of the bill, including the warning that “a dispensing site could come to your community.”

*Eighteen year olds (high school seniors) could get medical marijuana cards without a parent’s permission.

*Patients could receive 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days. The chiefs said this is 13 joints per day and “diversion of the extra will become problematic.”

*Patients could drive under the influence of marijuana unless found to be “impaired,” and enforcement of “impaired” becomes problematic.

*Local governments would not be allowed to prohibit “cultivation, dispensing, and use of medical cannabis.”

The statement urged residents to contact their legislative representatives to tell them they oppose the bill.

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