Lockport Police Chief Opposes Legalization Of Marijuana

LOCKPORT, IL — Lockport Chief of Police Terry Lemming has spoken out about his opposition to the legalization of marijuana several times in the past. Lemming is most concerned in how teenagers and possibly children would be affected by the legalization of marijuana in the state of Illinois.

Lemming is most concerned about adolescent use of marijuana. He cites studies that state that teens may have a lower IQ and poor development if they smoke marijuana.

"The legislature saying medical marijuana is okay, is wrong," Lemming said. "The FDA has said there is no medical value in marijuana, no medicinal value. Why would our state totally disregard that opinion?"

He spoke to WJOL in June and talked about how since marijuana was legalized in Colorado, traffic deaths have risen. He cites studies from the Colorado Department of Transportation which states that Colorado traffic deaths are up where drivers tested positive for marijuana from 2012 to 2015.

Lemming also questioned why legislature would approve the smoking of a substance when we know that smoking any substance causes cancer.

In his childhood, Lemming said his family all smoked cigarettes. It wasn't until PSAs and advertisements warning against the effects of smoking that anyone realized how bad smoking could be.

Lemming believes that by legalizing marijuana, we are showing that it's okay to use.

"We know that teens believe that the risk of harm in using marijuana is okay," Lemming said. "Use has gone up in states since legalization. I'm hurt by that, it's bad public policy."

Photo provided by Terry Lemming.