Per Erick Stock of Wglt.org, Illinois doctors want a voice in the states debate over recreational Marijuana. The Illinois State Medical Society and its president Paul Pederson have expressed concern about legalization, although they haven’t tipped their hand about what their stance towards it would actually be. Pederson cites the usually warnings about marijuana; that it is a gateway drug, addictive, and can impair one’s thought process. Complicating matters further is the fact that since it’s a federally banned substance, there can be no controlled study of its effects. According to the article, before the group takes a formal stance, they will hold a forum in  Peoria on April 6th to go over the possible pros and cons of legal Marijuana. It’s fair for doctors to want a seat at the table on this issue, but whether they like it or not it seems like legal pot will be coming as recently elected governor J.B. Pritzker is for it. There’s also more to the issue than health risks. Marijuana may pose some health threats like Pederson warns but that doesn’t mean it should be illegal. Cigarettes and alcohol pose worse health risks but we will never see those substances outright banned. Personal freedom, privacy, and bodily autonomy should play important roles in this debate.