A story in the State Journal-Register caught my eye — a groundbreaking ceremony June 6 for a large medical marijuana facility that will be built on old Route 66 north of Lincoln, Illinois.
The Cresco Labs facility at Old Route 66 and 1800th Street on the north edge of town is a new thing in Illinois, which legalized medical marijuana in 2013.
But what’s notable is how ordinary everything is about the event:
— Officials from the Logan County Board will participate in the groundbreaking.
— An informational meeting will be held at a local college about job opportunities.
— Typical information was released about the facility’s square footage, anticipated jobs created, etc.
— Cresco’s executive vice president making this very corporate statement: “We absolutely want to be the integrated partner that we’ve committed to being, and that’s going as far as hiring the best talent in the area.”
The story reads like something from a Wall Street Journal release. The company is cultivating marijuana, but treating like another widget.
Attitudes about cannabis are changing fast. There already are medical-marijuana dispensaries I’m aware of in Arizona and California.
It seems likely such places will be utterly mundane on the American landscape within 15 years, if not sooner.
(Image of a jar of medical marijuana in California by Dank Depot via Flickr)
I live in Ca. Medical Marajuna shops have proliferated in Los Angeles and other large cities like video rental stores. They also remain at odds with the laws governing them. Despite shutting down many of them card carrying members have no problem aguirring all they need. I work in Mental Health and do not see any patients with problems requiring Marijuana for treatment. I do see many patients with substance abuse problems, many of them started with Marijuana and worked they way up to even more addictive substances. Let’s hope Route 66 does not get a reputation as addiction highway.
I live in Ca. Medicinal marijuana shops have been banned in Fresno (the fifth largest city in the state). These shops have also been barred from every city within, and the counties of Fresno and Kings. These bans remain at odds with a voter passed initiative.
Despite shutting them all down, card carrying members have no problem acquiring all we need (and at a lower price, thank you.)
You work in mental health but want to deny a medicine that has helped many individuals.
I saw a person with a severe alcohol problem and it almost ruined her life. I, on the other hand, go to work every day, and lead a productive life. I deal with my customers directly, and no one knows.
I could take a manufactured chemical to help with my problem and give my money to a large corporation somewhere, or I could smoke a weed and shop local.
This place in Illinois has nothing to do with Route 66 (except for location), and there are so many bars located along the entire stretch of road that your comment about “addiction highway”, is grossly out of place, and not grounded in reality.