Ten states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Twenty-two other states, along with U.S. territories Puerto Rico and Guam, allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Let's examine some hidden issues about marijuana use. Before we start, permit me to state my values about medical or recreational use of any drug. We each own ourselves. If we choose to take chances with substances that can ruin our health, lead to death and otherwise destroy our own lives, that's our right. But we do not have a right to harm others in the process of harming ourselves.

As you are no doubt aware, our lawmakers in Springfield are now considering legislation to legalize “recreational” marijuana in Illinois. For approximately ten years, we fought against the push for “medical” marijuana, warning that, in part, it would be a...

Dear Pastors and Ministry Leaders, Illinois Family Institute is hosting an important Pastor’s Breakfast on Monday, January 28th in Oak Brook regarding the proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in our state. There are many consequences for our churches and communities...

Many people advocate for the legalization of marijuana from a position of bias, but Dr. Raymond Bertino opposes legalization on the basis of truth – medical facts and economics realities that expose the lies of recreational pot proponents.

Marijuana – is it a harmless plant, a medically beneficial substance, or a dangerous, destructive drug? Depending on who you ask, the answer will vary widely. Dr. Karen Randall speaks to this question based on her experience as an ER...

With the information we have provided, we hope that you will become armed with solid facts in the event your state lawmakers hold a town hall meeting to tell you the benefits of legalizing high potency marijuana. Please don’t ignore...

As legalization spreads, more Americans are becoming heavy users of cannabis, despite its links to violence and mental illness.

Are elected officials in Springfield willing to approve legislation for "recreational" marijuana to resolve decades of mismanagement of state funds? Are Illinois political leaders willing to compete with organized crime and cartel bosses to become Illinois’ new drug lords?

New data shows a troubling increase in teen-agers’ use of marijuana in Illinois, and a significant increase in vaping by teen-agers. Those are two major results from the second annual survey of School Resource Officers, who are police officers with primary responsibilities in schools throughout Illinois.

Are you aware that legalizing high potency marijuana is one of governor-elect JB Pritzker’s stated top priorities when he is sworn in as governor in January? Are you concerned about your children or grandchildren getting hooked on drugs and the...

Just hours after after his election-night victory speech, Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker has been making the rounds with Chicago media, talking up plans to make marijuana a priority in Illinois, telling one news outlet that it is “something we can work...

Whether or not you have made up your mind about legalizing marijuana for recreational use, the Illinois Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police highly recommend listening to the experts with genuine experience about what to expect if some lawmakers have their...

Illinois' senior U.S. Senator, Dick Durbin, recently introduced legislation in Washington, D.C. to crack down on flavored tobacco in e-cigarettes. He believes Big Tobacco is marketing to children with flavors like cake batter, whipped cream and gummy bears. As a mother and grandmother, I applaud his efforts. But there’s another industry targeting kids right under our adult noses - Big Marijuana.

Bifenazate, Trifloxystrobin, Abamectin, Bifenthrin. Do these names sound like healthy ingredients or chemicals you would feel comfortable ingesting in foods or beverages? These are pesticides that have been discovered in laboratory-tested samples of “medical” marijuana and marijuana products that were...

As you know, IFI is very concerned about the move by certain state lawmakers to legalize “recreational” marijuana in Illinois. In 2014, so-called “medical” marijuana became legal in the Land of Lincoln. Over the past four years, state lawmakers and...