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By supporting the legalization of marijuana, J.B. Pritzker, a challenger for the Illinois government, could bring about a change that will affect everything from criminal justice to public health and the economy if elected.
In opposing the recreational use of cannabis, incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner could appeal to his base while finding himself on the less popular side of the issue.
With polls indicating that Democrat Pritzker is favored – and other polls suggest broad support for the adoption of a recreational pot law – his election could put Illinois on the fast track to becoming one of the first Midwestern states to legalize cannabis.
Rauner signs a bill on the expansion of marijuana for medical purposes, an alternative medicine for pain "
Republican Rauner, on the other hand, previously stated that he was "very opposed" to legal marijuana.
His campaign drew this week stating that legalization "is a much newer and more complex issue that should not be taken into account by the state of Illinois before all the possible positive and negative effects be understood ".
The challenger claims that legal cannabis could generate between $ 350 and $ 700 million in annual fees, echoing what the sponsors touted about a pending legalization bill. Pritzker also said the change would increase the safety of people who use drugs and improve racial justice, with minorities being disproportionately arrested for possession of marijuana. And the candidate said that he would ensure that minorities participate in the management of the new industry.
"J.B. knows that we can safely legalize marijuana, for the greater benefit of the communities of Illinois, and he is ready to do so as a governor, "said his campaign at the Tribune.
Rauner, however, expressed concerns about its impact on public health and safety, such as the increased number of emergency room visits and arrests for drug-abusive driving in states with drug abuse. a legal pot, as well as an increase in addiction. Rauner says that states that allow it lead a massive "human experience."
In the debate, Democrats Pritzker and Biss support the legalization of marijuana in Illinois »
But marijuana advocates like Dan Linn, who heads the Illinois Chapter of the NORML marijuana law reform group, expect the affair to give Pritzker a chance to go to the polls, especially among young voters.
"This will be part of a wider wave of young people going to the polls," Linn said. "When there is such a clear difference between the two main candidates of the party, this question will inspire many young people to support the democrat."
Nine states legalized the pot, with the exception of Vermont, by voters who approved the voting questions. Illinois does not provide for the same binding referendum procedure as some other states; it is up to the legislators to decide the question. Traditionally, many politicians opposed legalization as part of a broader crime agenda. But public opinion at the national level has changed, partly because of the perception that the drug is less harmful than legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco or prescription drugs.
In Illinois, nearly two-thirds of respondents supported legalization, according to surveys conducted each of the past two years by the Southern Illinois University Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. This was supported by a similar number of voters who supported legalization during a consultative referendum held in Cook County in March.
In addition, Canada has recently become the second country, after Uruguay, to fully legalize the potato trade nationwide.
In the United States, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, but prosecutors generally did not attack people who complied with state programs. President Donald Trump said he would likely support a bill to ease the federal ban and let states decide the issue.
Pritzker has family ties in the cannabis industry. His second cousin, Joseph "Joby" Pritzker, and his father, Nicholas J. Pritzker, are investors in Tao Capital Partners, whose portfolio includes Juul, the maker of electronic cigarettes; Pax Labs, which also sells sprays and cannabis capsules; and Mr. J. Freeway, who markets cannabis tracking software. Joby Pritzker also sits on the board of directors of the reform-oriented marijuana policy project.
The spokeswoman for J.B. Pritzker's campaign said that he had no connection with these companies and that they did not influence his policy.
Since the end of 2015, Illinois has authorized the sale of cannabis for medical purposes, approved by Rauner's predecessor, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. The law was one of the strictest in the country, limiting its use to physician-certified patients as suffering from one of 40 conditions such as cancer, spinal cord disease or fibromyalgia.
While the Illinois medical jars market is about to develop, a leading national chain is buying an Oak Park dispensary. "
The Rauner administration initially rejected efforts to add more conditions to the list, although the governor supported the addition of terminal illness and post-traumatic stress disorder in 2016. Last August, Rauner signed a bill to authorize the use of prescription marijuana. this facilitates access for all potential patients by eliminating fingerprinting and background checks requirements.
The changes are expected to significantly expand the program beyond its current, relatively small size, with 46,000 certified patients and monthly sales of $ 12 million. But if the legalization came next year, as proposed, it would make Illinois one of the largest potential markets in the country.
Voters from at least four states will see their marijuana voting issues this fall. Michigan and North Dakota will vote on the legalization, while voters in Missouri and Utah will look into the issue of licensing the drug for medical purposes. Sixteen counties of Wisconsin consider also holding voting questions on legalization.
Yet this is one reason why commercials do not fill television with pictures of junkers. Experts say that marijuana alone is unlikely to determine the election.
While the issue generally favors Democrats, who more often support legalization, some research indicates that this does not necessarily lead to participation and that voters often identify other issues as higher priorities, such as crime and taxes. .
According to Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Information and Research Center on Learning and Civic Engagement at Tufts University, Colorado has seen an increase in young voter turnout in its referendum on legalization in Canada. 2012.
"The problem alone does not really make young people," she said.
Campaigns usually focus more on established voters and middle-aged voters, she added. And while younger voters tend to be more in favor of legalization, the majority of voters over 55 are also legal.
Some interest groups are trying to make legalization a voting problem. The Coalition for a Safer Illinois called on voters to end "the unnecessary and cruel prohibition policy". The message was signed by Chris Lindsey, Senior Legislative Counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project.
The legalization project spent about $ 1.6 million on lobbying this year, more than ever before, according to the Center of Responsive Politics, a non-partisan watchdog. But Lindsey said the group was focusing more on other states with voting issues.
Lavon Pettis, director of Healthy and Productive Illinois, who opposes the legalization, said that concerns about racial injustice had been initially resolved by decriminalizing small amounts of the drug in Illinois. in 2016, and that changes to the maintenance of order should be taken into account.
And she expects the tax benefits of marijuana to be offset by rising social costs for factors such as impaired driving, drug abuse and unsuccessful drug testing in the workplace.
"Marijuana plays a major role in the Illinois election right now," she said. "They are trying to do something that seems cool to them. But nobody talks about costs. "
Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
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