Let marijuana consumption ordinance go up in smoke

It’s unsurprising to hear that the marijuana consumption ordinance Mayor Lightfoot’s office has been working on was delayed again last week. Let’s hope the delay will give the city an opportunity to realize the proposal to allow recreational consumption in existing tobacco shops poses health risks and is a bad idea.

For starters, marijuana smoke contains its own set of harmful fine particulate matter and chemicals that cause lung irritation, asthma and increased risk of lung infection. Workers in tobacco shops and other patrons haven’t signed up to be exposed to those chemicals or to the mind-altering THC in marijuana.

We also don’t need to drive business to tobacco shops. They are doing fine peddling nicotine addiction on their own. Chicago has a long history of standing up to Big Tobacco and reducing the impact of tobacco-related illness through work like Smoke-Free Chicago. The City Council doesn’t need to send more customers into tobacco shops.

You must be at least 21 to purchase recreational marijuana or tobacco in Illinois. However, while marijuana dispensaries verify age at the door and don’t allow those under purchasing age inside, entrance to tobacco shops isn’t so tightly controlled. We’re currently seeing epidemic vaping rates among teenagers and would do well to be mindful not to encourage marijuana exposure as well. And who will ensure patrons at these proposed consumption sites take public transit to get home safely afterward?

It seems it would be better if we sent this proposal up in smoke and focus instead on keeping the air clear and smoke free for all Chicagoans.

Joel Africk, Wilmette

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No, President Trump is not pro-life

It amazes me that the Rev. Franklin Graham argues that Donald Trump “is the most pro-life friendly president in modern history.”

Refugees flee violence. Trump says, send them back. Some die. Who cares?

Work to improve Obamacare to save even more lives? No. No. No. Get rid of it (but not until after the election). Help stave off the suffering of millions due to coming catastrophic climate change? Oh, no. It’s a hoax. Enact universal background checks for gun purchases? And earn the wrath of NRA leaders? Are you crazy?

Cut back on environmental standards and enforcement? Now we’re talking. That should super-charge the economy. More people will suffer and die? Oh, well.

Trump buddies up to the murderous leaders of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Philippines. Do the lives these thugs snuff out count for nothing?

The Central Park 5 would have been executed had it been up to Trump. Did he apologize after it turned out they were innocent? Of course not.

Trump cares about the Almighty Buck and whatever it takes to get re-elected. He’ll be conveniently pro-birth one more time but pro-life? Not a chance.

Kevin Coughlin, Evanston