Letters: SB 7 is a bad idea

State lawmakers are pushing the legalization of “super weed.”

The 500-plus page bill (SB 7) that was introduced earlier this month in Springfield should greatly alarm parents and grandparents:

This is the substance that gets users intoxicated. The marijuana of the 1960s and 1970s only contained 1-3% THC. Today, the levels are 20% or more. The Dutch government walked back their marijuana policy and now considers cannabis with 15% THC a hard drug and illegal.

High potency marijuana use is linked to increases in addiction, psychosis, schizophrenia and violence.

SB 7 allows adults to grow up to five marijuana plants in their home(s). What good is a community opt-out when neighbors are legally permitted to grow it? Moreover, who wants to live near pot cultivation centers?

Cultivating excessive amounts of marijuana is not hypothetical. Conservatively, five plants could produce ten pounds of marijuana per year. That is more than 10,000 joints a year. No one can use that much marijuana. Where will the surplus go?

There are many other reasons to oppose this policy. In short, legalization is just not worth the social costs to our families and communities.

David E. Smith, Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute

"Intelligent, fun and unpredictable"; The Class of 2019

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(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden Class of 2019 celebrated in colorful style after receiving their diplomas on Sunday. One hundred and twenty-eight students were conferred as the newest class of graduates.

"They were a phenomenal class; a very, very bright class," said principal Gary Page. The Class of 2019 entered SJO as freshmen the same year he took over the reigns as principal. "Their GPA (as a class) was phenomenal."

When asked what three words characterized the Class of 2019, Paige responded with, "intelligent, fun and unpredictable."

66% of the senior class earned 3.0 or better grade average. The composite SAT score for this year's graduating class was 1112, which is 100 points higher than the state average.

Just as impressive is the fact that the senior class earned 914 dual credit college hours. After adding AP credit to that number, Paige envisions the dual credit hours to be close to a thousand.

They had a really good chemistry. They did enjoy each other and had a lot of fun together," Paige said. "I think they are a pretty close. That chemistry showed inside the school and they were great leaders inside of our building."