The idea of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois is no longer a pipe dream. Lawmakers are considering two pro-buzz bills that if enacted are sure to jeopardize safety and brain power in our state.

An expert on the new generation of very potent marijuana is cautioning lawmakers in Illinois against taking any steps that would weaken penalties for activities involving pot and other drugs.

On January 1, 2014, an Illinois law went into effect allowing marijuana for “medical” use. As a result, drugged driving is now on the rise in Illinois.

Imagine this: Upon taking his oath of office, President Donald Trump instructs his new attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to ignore civil rights laws. How would that go over?

Federal Law in the United States has prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of marijuana for more than 70 years. However, with the discovery of potential medicinal properties of marijuana and the increasing misperception that the drug is harmless, there have arisen increased efforts to achieve its broad legalization despite persistent problems of abuse.

The most dangerous side of legal pot is Big Marijuana, say foes of the referenda in five American states on election day. To see what’s coming down the pike, consider what happened to Colorado’s ballot initiative 139.

This November, there are a record number of ballot initiatives in at least nine states regarding so-called medical marijuana or outright legalization of the Schedule I drug. The pot pushers, both small businesses and large, want more people smoking, eating, and consuming more pot because it is good for their bottom line.

Before the regular session ended on May 31st, State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) were able to legislation to decriminalize marijuana passed in both the Illinois House and Senate. This dubious bill (SB 2228) will soon be sent to Governor Bruce Rauner, who will then have 60 days to sign it into law or veto it.

I retired after three decades as a prosecutor. While in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, I drafted a training manual called Narcotics Law which was later used in the office as a manual for Assistant States Attorneys for over a decade and years after I retired. After I retired I have defended people accused of violating the Cannabis Control Act. Knowing how the system really works, I can dispel several cannabis myths.

A massive new study sponsored jointly by Duke University, the University of California at Davis and other research institutions shows that marijuana is hardly a harmless diversion.

Contact Your Lawmakers to Oppose HB 4357 & SB 2228! Children at Risk State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) has introduced HB 4357 in the Illinois House and State Senator Heather Steans has introduced SB 2228 in the Illinois Senate. Both...

The big pot push is now underway in Illinois with the opening of what proponents call “medical” marijuana dispensaries. But an activist who blames her son’s suicide on his marijuana addiction warns what’s being rolled out in the Land of...

The number of marijuana users among teens is increasing. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in 2013: Marijuana use rose to 7.5% of users aged 12 or older in 2013. This is up from 6.2% of users in 2002.

In the debate over whether marijuana should be legal, for both medicinal and recreational purposes, one thing both sides seem to agree on is that more research needs to be conducted. Thus, advocates and opponents should take note of several articles published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association related to medical marijuana. One analysis of note found there is little evidence from nearly 80 studies that the drug helps many of the illnesses for which it has been approved.

The great irony, or misfortune, of the national debate over marijuana is that while almost all the science and research is going in one direction—pointing out the dangers of marijuana use—public opinion seems to be going in favor of broad legalization.