Sen. McCarter Still Opposes Medical Marijuana, and Tells Why

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Published on October 1 2014 6:23 am
Last Updated on October 1 2014 6:23 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The process of establishing medical marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries is well underway in Illinois.

One area legislator, St. Sen. Kyle McCarter, maintains his opposition to the enterprise.

In a letter to government leaders in the 54th Senate District and made available to the media, McCarter said he's seen efforts by government entities to attract a facility to their area and has been contacted by investors looking to obtain licenses.

McCarter states in the letter, "I am not in favor of 'medical marijuana'. I will not support any of the investors in this industry nor will I promote the implementation of the new law."

As to why McCarter opposes the efforts, he said the legislation creating the program was "passed unethically and in any other state such a process would have been illegal." McCarter's letter reads that lobbyists influenced legislators to vote in favor of House Bill 1, and also influenced the Governor to convince legislators to vote in favor and to sign the bill. The letter reads that many of the same lobbyists are the major investors in the Medical Marijuana industry in Illinois. He also asks whether investors in the Medical Marijuana industry could include past legislators who voted in favor of the legislation. McCarter notes that would be legal, but asks whether it would be moral?

McCarter's letter also states the "promised economic impact of jobs from marijuana is unverifiable when you consider there will be a societal 'cost'". He says that cost would be associated with undermining the dynamics of "long-standing common sense arguments" that have been employed to combat the use of harmful and illegal drugs.

The letter also asserts that "society, through their elected representatives, is ignoring an otherwise illegal and criminal activity". The letter cites a Chicago area newspaper article that medical marijuana growers seeking the new state licenses do not have to declare "how they will acquire their first seeds and starter plants." Although 20-plus states have legalized medical marijuana, the federal government hasn't, so McCarter's letter asserts "moving seeds over state lines is illegal."

The letter also lists McCarter's other reasons as "legislation, even for questionable and disputable medical purposes, will have negative cultural consequences" and "there are no objective, measurable standards for intoxication for marijuana".