ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — Some advocates in Illinois are trying to stop recreational marijuana from becoming legal.
Several groups visited the Illinois State Capitol to oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Opponents, like State Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), cited several reasons why smoking pot for fun shouldn't be allowed.
"This bill has problems all across the front," Moylan said. "From advertising to home growing. They're gonna say, 'OK, you can have five plants per family, or five plants per household.' How are we going to enforce that? Are we going to have pot police going around with a clicker going, 'One, two, three, four, five?' No, they're gonna be growing it on the back porch, selling it on the front porch."
Moylan asked whether anyone wants this in their neighborhood, but a Cook County advisory referendum on whether pot should be legalized passed by a 69-31 margin in his home precinct in 2016.
Police also said enforcement will be an issue — others argue marijuana will lead to the abuse of stronger, more addictive drugs.
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police President Steven Stelter said they're concerned about impaired driving, too.
"Law enforcement has no way to prosecute that person for driving under the influence. There is no test out there right now currently that we can do this," Stelter said. "These people want to shove this down our throat and get it passed and we can't take any kind of action if somebody, one of your loved ones, is harmed in a traffic accident? This is insane."
Others complain frequent pot use will lead to the use of more dangerous and addictive drugs. Lawmakers working on the bill said they're open to suggestions.