North Cook News

“Shall the State of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?”

No, Katie Miller, the Mt. Prospect Republican running in the GOP primary in the 53rd District for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights), said when asked about the referendum question Illinois voters will be answering in the November general election.

“I oppose legalization of marijuana for recreational use,” Miller told the North Cook News. “We are a nation of laws and it is against federal law. We cannot be picking and choosing which laws to follow.”

Miller, a longtime nurse at Alexian Brothers epilepsy clinic in Hoffman Estates and case manager at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, said Illinois should not condone drug use.

“Marijuana stays in your system for anywhere from one week to one month,” Miller said. “With that variation how can society know when someone is driving or working under the influence of marijuana?”

The question about recreational use of marijuana was discussed by lawmakers last month. An article titled, “Ballot question on recreational use of marijuana clears state panel,” in the Prairie State Wire, reported Sens. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) and Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) disapproved of the proposal, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), that put the non-binding advisory question on the recreational use of marijuana on the ballot.

Cunningham said by his count there are nine states and the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and it was done by a ballot initiative in those cases, except for Vermont.