State of Illinois Archives: on Drugs
Ameya Pawar:
Focus on rehabilitation, not punishment
Ameya will make prisons more humane by placing limitations on the use of solitary confinement and ending the ugly history of refusing medical care to prisoners. Ameya will end mandatory minimums for state crimes, and reinstate the
discretionary parole system. Prisons will have education, job training, and job placement programs, allowing people to re-enter society as productive members of society with economic opportunities, which reduces recidivism and saves money.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website pawar2018.com
Sep 1, 2017
Ameya Pawar:
End the war on drugs
Illinois cannot stop the federal government from carrying out its War on Drugs, but we can stop doing their work for them. This includes reducing minor possession of controlled substances from a felony,
legalizing and regulating recreational marijuana, using some of the revenue generated to pay for addiction treatment and safe injection sites. Addiction is a disease and those who suffer from it deserve treatment, not punishment for their illness.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website pawar2018.com
Sep 1, 2017
Anne Stava-Murray:
Legalize recreational marijuana & include safety provisions
Q: Should recreational marijuana be legalized?A: Yes. We would need to ensure that legalization includes provisions for public safety, which would include impaired driving. "Breathalyzers" for marijuana aren't necessary--probable cause for pulling
over could be similar for alcohol impairment or texting and driving, including dangerous behaviors like multiple lane departures. Field sobriety tests could set the standard for impaired consciousness that could result from other substances as well
Source: Chicago Sun-Times on 2020 Illinois Senatorial race
Oct 22, 2018
Anne Stava-Murray:
End marijuana probation; allow regulation and taxation
I support ending the adult (age 21+) marijuana prohibition, which prevents the regulation and taxation of a widely occurring activity.
With this should come responsible regulation & public health tracking.
Source: Chicago Daily Herald on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Oct 22, 2018
Bruce Rauner:
Decriminalize marijuana; but no to legalization
Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?Pritzker: Legalize.
Rauner: No to legalization. Signed bill to decriminalize small amounts.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Illinois Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Chris Kennedy:
Legalization based on science, not tax impact
Chris further believes that the issue of legalizing marijuana should be separated from the issue of using taxes as a revenue stream to fund state government. If the medical and scientific evidence supports the legalization of marijuana, then
Illinois should legalize marijuana, whether it is helpful to the state budget or not. This decision should be taken on its own merit and not made in the fog of political conflict over paying for state government.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website KennedyForIllinois.com
Sep 1, 2017
Chris Kennedy:
Don't count on marijuana getting legalized
Asked about marijuana while speaking to a group of college Democrats in Bloomington, JB Pritzker received roaring applause to his one-sentence statement on the topic: "And I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it."Chris Kennedy was asked by a
student: if it was legalized, what would his plan be for using the tax money? "I think you have high hopes," Kennedy quipped to laughter and applause, and then said, "I don't know whether it'll get legalized, I don't know if it'll get taxed.
I mean, I think betting our future that all of that occurs and that somehow that's gonna cure our budget problem. I think we need thoughtful, real, concrete [policy plans] that operate without relying on something that has, you know,
tenuous, possibilities. Sorry. I'll tell you the truth." The students were dead silent when he finished, so Kennedy decided to take one more question because, he said, "I can't go out on that one."
Source: CapitolFax.com on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race
May 1, 2017
Daniel Biss:
Legalize marijuana
Legalizing and regulating marijuana will increase tax revenue, reduce law enforcement costs, and bring jobs to Illinois. More importantly, the application of marijuana laws disproportionately targets
African Americans despite similar rates of use between white and black Americans. This is why Daniel co-sponsored a bill that would fully legalize marijuana in Illinois.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website DanielBiss.com
Sep 1, 2017
Doug Truax:
Medical marijuana is a state issue
Republican contenders for Senate say they would not vote to legalize medical marijuana at the federal level, though one of them voted in favor of such a measure in Illinois. Despite his support of legalizing medical marijuana in Illinois, state Sen.
Jim Oberweis said the issue should not be addressed at the federal level. "The federal government needs to let the states individually decide how to handle the issue of medicinal marijuana," the Sugar Grove Republican said in a prepared statement.
His Republican primary election opponent, Doug Truax of Oak Brook, has a similar view on the issue, according to a campaign spokesman, who said, "His position is that it is a state issue, not a federal one."
If legalizing recreational use of marijuana came up at the national level, the spokesman said Truax again would argue to leave it up to the states.
Source: Daily Herald on 2014 Illinois GOP Senate primary debate
Feb 21, 2014
J.B. Pritzker:
Legalize and tax marijuana
Asked about marijuana while speaking to a group of college Democrats in Bloomington, JB Pritzker received roaring applause to his one-sentence statement on the topic: "And I think we should legalize marijuana and tax it."Chris Kennedy was asked by a
student: if it was legalized, what would his plan be for using the tax money? "I think you have high hopes," Kennedy quipped to laughter and applause, and then said, "I don't know whether it'll get legalized, I don't know if it'll get taxed.
I mean, I think betting our future that all of that occurs and that somehow that's gonna cure our budget problem. I think we need thoughtful, real, concrete [policy plans] that operate without relying on something that has, you know,
tenuous, possibilities. Sorry. I'll tell you the truth." The students were dead silent when he finished, so Kennedy decided to take one more question because, he said, "I can't go out on that one."
Source: CapitolFax.com on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race
May 1, 2017
J.B. Pritzker:
Legal marijuana will raise revenue & create jobs
By legalizing and regulating adult-use cannabis, we will create jobs and bring in $170 million in licensing and other fees in fiscal year 2020. I don't view this issue through a purely financial lens. I think we should take this action for our state
because of the beneficial criminal and social justice implications and the jobs it will create. Like it or not, cannabis is readily available right now. I would rather tax it and regulate it than deny the reality of its use and accessibility.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 20, 2019
J.B. Pritzker:
Legal cannabis creates jobs, businesses, new tax revenue
We made enormous strides when Democrats and Republicans came together to legalize adult-use cannabis which will result in 63,000 new jobs, and new opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially those from communities that have been left behind.
It gives us a chance to collect tax revenue from the residents of Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana, and most importantly, we're giving a second chance to hundreds of thousands of people who had a low level cannabis conviction or arrest.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address
Jan 29, 2020
Jim Oberweis:
Let doctoral psychologists prescribe controlled substances
Oberweis voted Yea on SB 2187, "Authorizing Doctoral Level Psychologists to Prescribe Controlled Substances". Bill Passed Senate 37-10. OnTheIssues Synopsis: - The Clinical Psychologists Licensing Board shall grant certification as prescribing
psychologists to doctoral level psychologists.
- The Board shall develop and implement procedures and criteria for reviewing educational and training credentials for the certification process and the extent of prescriptive authority.
-
Prescribing psychologist certification requirements: completion of a doctoral program in psychology; or graduation with a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, including instruction in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology;
and having successfully completed a supervised clinical experience including clinical assessment and pathophysiology, plus a supervised practicum of at least 400 hours treating no fewer than 100 patients with mental disorders.
Source: OnTheIssues synopsis of Illinois legislative voting records
Apr 25, 2013
Jim Oberweis:
Who am I to say patients shouldn't use medical marijuana?
Despite his support of legalizing medical marijuana in Illinois, state Sen. Jim Oberweis said the issue should not be addressed at the federal level. "The federal government needs to let the states individually decide how to handle the issue of medicinal
marijuana," the Republican said.Illinois legalized medical marijuana last summer. Oberweis voted for it and after it passed the state Senate he said, "The bottom line is: Who am I to say that they shouldn't be allowed to use that if in fact
that will help them?"
But if it came up at the federal level, Oberweis would argue it wouldn't be Congress' place to legalize it. In a prepared statement, he said, "The federal government needs to let the states make decisions for themselves, the same
way states get to set their own speed limits and handle their own economic policies."
Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana and two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized the recreational use of marijuana.
Source: Daily Herald on 2014 Illinois GOP Senate primary debate
Feb 21, 2014
Mark Curran:
Key to solving opioid epidemic is border security
The solution to the opioid epidemic starts with increased border security. To truly curtail the problem, federal policymakers must focus on tightening border security and giving border agents the training, tools and resources to stop fentanyl
before it flows to the rest of the country. Communities across the U.S. have been battling the opioid addiction crisis for years, but we will only be truly successful if the problem at the border is fixed by the federal government.
Source: Northwest Herald on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Sep 22, 2019
Mark Curran:
Training and Narcan will help responders deal with overdoses
As Sheriff, I took steps to ensure my staff had the training and tools to help those experiencing a medical emergency or mental health emergency. The training in crisis intervention and in the proper use of naloxone (Narcan), would
ensure those experiencing either a mental health emergency or overdose would have care until they were attended to by the right medical professionals. I will be an advocate for increased mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation programs.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Mark Curran:
Training and Narcan will help responders deal with overdoses
As Sheriff, I took steps to ensure my staff had the training and tools to help those experiencing a medical emergency or mental health emergency. The training in crisis intervention and in the proper use of naloxone (Narcan),
would ensure those experiencing either a mental health emergency or overdose would have care until they were attended to by the right medical professionals. I will be an advocate for increased mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation programs.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Mark Kirk:
No need to increase veterans' access to medical marijuana
Incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk (R) has consistently voted against marijuana law reform measures in the Appropriations Committee and on at least two occasions has spoken out against amendments to increase military veterans'
access to medical marijuana. "We do not have too few veterans who are high right now," he said before one vote. "I don't see that as a problem in our country."
Democratic challenger Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, on the other hand, has voted in favor of House amendments to protect state medical cannabis
laws from federal interference and for an amendment to stop the Department of Justice from interfering with any state marijuana law, including those covering recreational use.
Source: Marijuana.com on 2016 Illinois Senate race
Jun 13, 2016
Mark Kirk:
Crack down on drug cartels trafficking of illegal weapons
Congressman Kirk joined with law enforcement officials to unveil H.R. 1448, the Border Reinforcement and Violence Reduction Act. This legislation targets heroin overdoses in the suburbs by providing additional resources to crack down on the trafficking
of illegal weapons, reducing the power of these drug cartels and limiting their ability to bring heroin into the U.S.The DEA has shown that violent Mexican drug cartels are bringing in high-purity heroin to communities throughout the country.
These cartels are operating in more than 195 American cities, with three in the Chicago area. These cartels wage war on each other for territory, fueled by weapons illegally trafficked from the United States. Already these conflicts are moving to our
country, with extreme acts of violence -- including beheadings. We cannot stop the flow of illegal drugs without targeting the high-powered weapons that flow south to Mexico. [Source: kirk.house.gov/index.php ]
Source: Vote-IL.org profile for 2016 Illinois Senate race
Nov 22, 2010
Mark Kirk:
Decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana
Q: On Marijuana: Decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana?Duckworth: Yes
Kirk: No, including for medical marijuana.
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Illinois Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Mike Bost:
Strengthen drug-related penalties, but consider alternatives
Bost indicates support of the following principles to address crime.- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- Support programs
to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Support .08 blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
Source: 2000 Illinois National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Napoleon Harris:
Make marijuana possession a civil violation
HB 218 Classifies Marijuana Possession as a Civil Violation: Bill Passed Senate (37 - 19) Napoleon Harris voted Yea. Vote to pass a bill that classifies possession of 15 grams or less of cannabis as a civil law violation. Highlights: -
Classifies the possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana as a civil law violation punishable by a fine between $55 and $125
- Classifies the possession of more than 15 grams of marijuana as a misdemeanor, and more than 100 grams as a class 4 felony.
- Requires a law enforcement agency and the clerk of the circuit court to
expunge the records of an individual convicted of possession of up 15 grams of a substance containing marijuana, beginning 180 days after the enactment of the bill.
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2014 Illinois voting records
May 21, 2014
Napoleon Harris:
Add PTSD to allowed compassionate use of marijuana
Senator Harris co-sponsored legislation SB33: Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.
Adds "post-traumatic stress disorder" to the definition of "debilitating medical conditions"
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record
Nov 4, 2015
Raja Krishnamoorthi:
Opioid abuse blights our nation; more funds to fight it
The growing crisis of opioid abuse is a blight on our community and on our nation. Such drugs include heroin, but also prescription medicine like oxycodone, codeine, and methadone.Raja recognizes that opioid abuse is a national crisis that requires
swift action. There are two significant holes in the most recent federal legislation that threaten its usefulness:
- Funding: The Obama Administration requested $1.1 billion for opioid treatment and prevention programs [which did not get funded]:
to help law enforcement and expand treatment programs.
- Record Keeping: The July 2016 bill also failed to provide for a national record-keeping system that would prevent "doctor-shopping."
- Raja has proposed establishing the National
Opioid Safety Fund and Database. This legislation would secure a stable funding source and create a national Prescription Drug Monitoring Program by turning the existing state-by-state efforts into an interactive, nationwide network.
Source: 2016 Illinois House campaign website RajaForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Richard Durbin:
The plague of methamphetamine abuse is growing
The plague of methamphetamine abuse is growing in Illinois and across the nation, posing serious challenges for law enforcement agencies and first responders in rural areas. Meth is tearing apart our families and overwhelming our child welfare network.
As a member of the Senates Anti-Meth Caucus, I strongly support programs to provide these regions with the resources they need to keep their communities safe.In partnership with the Illinois Sheriffs Association, I secured federal funding for an ad
campaign to promote awareness and prevention of methamphetamine abuse in southern and central Illinois. I continue to support efforts to make it more difficult for meth "cooks" to obtain the chemicals needed to make meth and have introduced
legislation that will make it easier to track purchases of meth ingredients. I have also offered legislation to provide comprehensive family-based substance abuse treatment for pregnant and parenting women suffering from meth addiction.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Apr 3, 2008
Rodney Davis:
Strengthen penalties associated with drug-related crimes
Davis indicates support for the following principles to address crime in Illinois.- Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- Continue to enforce "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their
full sentences without parole.
- Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
- Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
- Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the
community.
- Implement "enterprise zones" in high crime communities to promote job-creating industries in those areas.
- Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
-
Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
- Impose mandatory curfews for minors in high crime areas.
Source: Illinois State 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Tammy Duckworth:
Protect state marijuana laws from federal interference
Incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk (R) has consistently voted against marijuana law reform measures in the Appropriations Committee and on at least two occasions has spoken out against amendments to increase military veterans'
access to medical marijuana. "We do not have too few veterans who are high right now," he said before one vote. "I don't see that as a problem in our country."
Democratic challenger Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, on the other hand, has voted in favor of House amendments to protect state medical cannabis
laws from federal interference and for an amendment to stop the Department of Justice from interfering with any state marijuana law, including those covering recreational use.
Source: Marijuana.com on 2016 Illinois Senate race
Jun 13, 2016
Juliana Stratton:
Chairs board reinvesting state revenues from marijuana sales
The Restore, Reinvest and Renew, or "R3" grants are funded with a portion of the state's revenue from sales of adult-use marijuana, and they were a key element of the 2019 bill that legalized recreational marijuana in Illinois. "We know that too many
communities, disproportionately Black and brown communities throughout our state, have suffered from over incarceration and decades of disinvestment due to the failed war on drugs," Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who chairs the R3 Program Board, said.
Source: Capitol News Illinois on 2026 Illinois Senate race
Jan 22, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026