Rockford Sun

Since adult use of cannabis was legalized this year, approximately 972,000 items sold for $39.2 million, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office, with state residents accounting for $30.6 million in sales and out-of-state residents spending $8.6 million. 

But activists are unconvinced that the quick cash is worth the price society will pay in the long term.

“Our state has so many opportunities to save money and cut the waste,” said Kathie Hansen, a Rockford activist. “Getting back to basics is much healthier than profiting off of legal adult-use marijuana.”

In June 2019, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, according to a press release.

The bill that Pritzker signed in June 2019 became law on January 1, 2020.

“Science has proven that frequent marijuana use destroys people’s cognitive function,” said Hansen,  who was elected to the volunteer position of committee captain for Rockford Precinct 3. “We may be dumbing down America by allowing this long term.”

A second concern is the loss of Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.

“As soon as someone gets a card to ingest marijuana, they lose their right to carry a gun,” said Hansen. “People need to carry a gun to protect themselves because police cannot handle the number of criminals out there.”

Although recreational use of cannabis is legal in Illinois, it’s still illegal on a federal level and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives rules state that an unlawful user of, or [person] addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance is prohibited from owning or purchasing any kind of gun, according to media reports.

"I would like to see our lawmakers focused on restoring our society to caring about each other instead of encouraging the use of mind-altering substances," Hansen said in a phone interview. "But if you want everybody dumbed down and hungry then fine."