cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness in Illinois!





Reefer Madness in Illinois!
Posted by FoM on April 15, 1999 at 06:11:28 PT
Source: Wired News
A bill that would make it a crime to use the Web to transmit information about marijuana and other drugs is moving through the Illinois legislature. 
The legislation passed the House last week and was presented to the Senate committee on Wednesday. "It's bringing into the late 20th century existing laws" that apply to communication about drugs through the mail and other means, said Bill Mitchell, the Republican representative who drafted the bill. Activists say it's also ushering in the potential for a serious abuse of the First Amendment. "It's a nascent attempt to thwart free speech on the Internet," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the NORML Foundation, an organization that lobbies to decriminalize marijuana. "[The legislature] is at the vanguard of nit-wittery." Not so, said Mitchell. "This would not infringe on First Amendment rights. It simply covers illegal solicitation of marijuana and other illegal drugs over the Internet." In theory, the bill extends the existing Illinois Cannabis Control Act and Controlled Substances Act, which make it a crime to sell, deliver, or manufacture illegal drugs. The problem, free speech advocates say, is that the legislation doesn't explicitly spell out exactly what would be deemed illegal online. "It is a Class A misdemeanor to transmit information by the Internet about a controlled substance knowing that the information will be used in furtherance of illegal activity," reads the bill's text. What, precisely, does that mean? "It's not tightly drafted by any stretch," said Mary Dixon, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "As it stands, it has the potential to stifle free speech." Would it be illegal for say, an AIDS patient in Illinois to inquire through email about California's Medical Use of Marijuana Act, asked NORML's St. Pierre? "What if he's just gathering information to decide if he wants to move out there?" It's also unclear how the bill would address illicit drug information originating from outside the state. Because it is so vague, analysts don't give the bill much chance of making it through the Senate. "I think there will be some thoughtful questions raised" in the Senate, said Dixon. "[Mitchell] will be hard pressed to move the bill as is." 
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Comment #1 posted by autumn hoffman on August 08, 2001 at 17:33:36 PT:
pot
Ihope you guys know that if you take pot away that meth will increase at least 50% more then what it is now. If we get to keep it then they dont have anything to worry about. they are tring to take smoke, cigs.,and everything that makes us came it is a crock of crap if you ask me. just make it legal and go on with life         THANKS          Autumn Hoffman
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