May 24, 2019
To the Illinois General Assembly:
As clergy, we care deeply about social justice. The criminalization of cannabis, even for simple possession, has crippled the lives of people of color disproportionately for more than four decades. This is why we – the undersigned – believe it is time to move to a system of legal, regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis in Illinois.
Current cannabis laws, fines, and arrests are carried out with staggering racial bias. The illicit market, which prohibition makes inevitable, continues to breed violence in our poorest communities all across Illinois.
Regulation would make Illinois a safer state. It would allow us to educate adults, informing them about what a product contains and enabling them to make informed decisions. Banning sales by law to those under 21 would help to limit access to our youth. Under prohibition, these measures are not possible.
Legislation being considered in Springfield would permit the expungement of cannabis arrests and convictions and allocate funds to communities ravaged by the War on Drugs. It would provide valuable business opportunities to minorities.
We cannot wait any longer to make this the law of the land in Illinois. We urge you to vote yes on a regulatory system that works for all of Illinois.
Signed,
| Reverend Scott Aaseng Reverend Lee Barker Reverend Robert E. Biekman Reverend Barbara Bolsen Reverend Danielle J. Buhuro Reverend Fanya Burford Reverend Julian DeShazier Reverend Randall Doubet-King Reverend Dr. Russell Elleven Reverend Emily Gage Reverend Franklin Gamwell Reverend Edward Goode Reverend Joy Grainge Reverend Larry L. Greenfield Reverend David Gregg Reverend Allen Harden Reverend Alice Harper-Jones Reverend James A. Hobart Reverend Darrick Jackson Reverend Sarah Jay Reverend Dr. Matthew Johnson Reverend Veronica M. Johnson Reverend Jonathan Knight Reverend Jesse Knox III Reverend Mike Lesperance Reverend Sarah Lusche Reverend H. Scott Matheney Reverend Lucie Macfarlane | Minister Darren Calhoun Reverend Florence Caplow Reverend Tom Capo Reverend Jason Coulter Reverend George W. Daniels Reverend Roger Dart Reverend Kevin J. McLemore Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva Reverend John Modschiedler Reverend Richard Mosley Jr. Reverend Karen Mooney Reverend Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks Reverend Christopher Powell Reverend Mary Rawlinson Reverend Thomas Rawlinson Reverend Kathryn Ray Rabbi Frederick Reeves Reverend Saeed Richardson Reverend Vilius Rudra Dundzila Reverend Pamela Rumancik Reverend Alexander Sharp Reverend Robert Trask Reverend Kathaleen Valek Reverend Colleen Vahey Reverend Amy Wharton Reverend Gunnar Williams Reverend Eileen Wiviott Reverend Ronald Young |
