Effingham's Medical Cannabis Clinic
SPRINGFIELD - State lawmakers could vote on two bills when they return to the Capitol later in October that would make recreational marijuana usage legal in Illinois and set up a marijuana tax system to feed Illinois' insatiable appetite for more of its citizens' dollars.
"OPPOSE HB 2353 and SB 316 to legalize and tax marijuana," an Illinois group concerned about out-of-control illegal drug use expansion said Friday. (And note, this is all happening despite the fact federal law still considers marijuana illegal.)
But maybe legalizing marijuana isn't all rainbows and unicorns? A new report released this week about the impact of Colorado's marijuana use gives chilling statistics about increase in traffic deaths and marijuana-related hospitalizations:
- In 2009, Colorado marijuana-related traffic deaths involving drivers testing positive for marijuana represented 9% of all traffic deaths. By 2017, that number more than doubled to 20%.
- Past month use of marijuana for youth was 55% higher than the national average.
- Yearly number of marijuana-related hospitalizations increased 72% after the legalization of recreational marijuana.
- 346 highway interdiction seizures of marijuana in 2016--most common destinations identified were Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Kansas and Florida.
- Crime in Denver increased 17% and crime in Colorado increased 11% from 2013 to 2016.
