How the medical marijuana debate is lighting up in Illinois
Don’t book that flight from Chicago to Amsterdam this winter just yet; medical marijuana may be on its way. Illinois, in a joint effort with the Obama administration, could very well be the next state to hash out a plan to legalize medicinal cannabis. Recent legislation and a new federal stance on the drug have made possible a whole new way of healing.
The United States Justice Department announced last week that they will stop prosecuting those who use marijuana for medicinal purposes, as long as the users comply with local laws. In a sharp departure from the Bush administration’s stance on marijuana, United States Attorney General Eric Holder said, “It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana.”
Although medical marijuana isn’t yet legalized in Illinois, legislation in the Illinois State Senate regarding the issue has passed. SB 1381, The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, passed through the upper house of the Illinois legislature last May. But it wasn’t easy.
According to the bill, a patient with a debilitating medical condition, as diagnosed by a physician, can be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health which would allow them to have no more than seven dried cannabis plants and two ounces of dried usable cannabis. After a roll call vote that followed nearly an hour of debate in the Senate, it was reported that the gallery erupted in applause when the bill passed by a narrow 30-28-1 margin.
The Senate may have lit up with elation, but the Illinois House of Representatives hasn’t been as vocal. Representative Lou Lang, a Democrat from Skokie who is sponsoring the bill in the House, said in an interview that, “If every legislator who told me we should pass this bill actually voted for it, we’d pass it tomorrow [...] but we have too many legislators who don’t have the courage of their convictions.” Essentially, many of the legislators who compose the heavily liberal-leaning House have privately stated that they want to legalize medicinal marijuana, but they are afraid to state the same in public.
In a state where 68 percent of people support legalizing medical marijuana and both the governor and his Democratic primary opponent are in favor of such a bill, it’s puzzling that the state legislature hasn’t been as supportive. Marijuana seems financially lucrative as well, as demonstrated by California, whose medical marijuana industry raked in $2 billion a year from sales and $100 million in taxes. Despite these reasons, though, support for legalization is far from uniform.
Some law enforcement and medical groups are wary of the new bill. The Illinois State Medical Society, for example, is concerned about the side effects of using marijuana medicinally, and so they want to see more research done before supporting such a law. Law enforcement agencies, understandably, are concerned that increased illegal drug trafficking is an almost inevitable component to any new legalization efforts.
Of course, the overarching reason behind the House’s inertia is purely political. Because the primary elections are coming up in February, don’t expect any work to be done on this bill until after winter; many politicians don’t want such a controversial piece of legislation to be a central theme in their primary races. Primaries are especially crucial in the Chicago area, where the seeming inevitability of a Democratic win means the primary is the race that actually matters.
If the bill does pass through the House, Mary Jane won’t be waiting on you hand and foot. Strict laws will be enforced that mimic Colorado’s system of obtaining permits in order to access medical marijuana. It’s important to note, however, that only 47 out the 13,102 Colorado citizens who applied for identification cards to buy or grow marijuana for medicinal use were denied or had their permits revoked. The bill also has a sunset law, a powerful legal check that will force legislators to reconsider the law in three years, in case its use gets out of hand.
While we may have to wait until after the primary elections, Illinois seems close to becoming the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. So those of you with chronic illnesses that are in dire need of this new bill, you might just be in luck. The rest of you who might have a slightly different definition of “chronic illness,” your luck is probably going to get better, too.
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If pot and politics can't get you to relax, try some sexual healing with your foreign policy. Or you can return home.
I grew up in IL and am now the owner of High Country Caregiver a Colorado based medical marijuana caregiver service that provides organic medical marijuana to qualified patients. Our website has much information and many links about medical marijuana. I did notice one error in the article, as far as the seven plants, they will not be ‘dry’, plants are generally moist and alive, when you harvest your crop, you then dry it out so that you can properly ingest. High Country Caregiver recommends vaporizing with a Volcano, not smoking.
IL, you will really benefit from this, the quality of the medicine will greatly improve, and crime associated with the old days of prohibition will end because local growers will supply locals and eliminate the need for over-the-border supply.
Jah Bless Illinois!
TuTone
October 23, 2009 at 12:26 am
These corrupt spineless jellyfish we call politicians
in Illinois dont have the BALLS to do something as HUMANE
to legalize Medical Marijuana for the sick and dieing.
crook county
October 23, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Quote: “Some law enforcement and medical groups are wary of the new bill.”
Law enforcement needs to keep out of the law-making process entirely. Their job is to enforce the laws as they are decided upon by the voters. I can understand that they are worried about loosing those overtime hours in court over petty drug busts, but that’s just too bad. I for one will be most happy to see all the para-military, drug-warrior police officers standing in the unemployment line. The DEA can rot – every penny spent on the monster organization has been wasted.
Mike R
October 23, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Never before has helping people in pain been so controversial.
I am ashamed of the people who put politics before compassion.
Miriam
October 23, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Do the Law Enforcement Idiot’s have any medical experience other than calling for paramedic
help after they beat the shit out of a victim of political ignorance.
James
October 23, 2009 at 3:40 pm
It needs to be more than don’t ask don’t tell release those 100.000.000 people that are there for nothing more than a plant and enlist them to rebuild Illinois and fix our canal our bridges and let them feel like they are human and not the animal you have been using for your own job security guards and this needs dune in every state not just in the capital of corruption.
Richard Sievert
October 24, 2009 at 9:42 am
Federal prosecution of medical marijuana, in states where it is legal, has been repealed!!!
Why take a profit-motivated, engineered pill which has not stood the test of time and usually has more significant side effects (liver or kidney proplems, suicide?!?!), or drink liquor that has significant acute impairment and long-term health risks? Pharmaceutical companies will not like these new guidelines, or the alcohol industry as they both stand to lose significantly. Let us take control of our God-given rights! Marijuana is mother nature’s time-tested salve.
If people let government decide which foods they eat and medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
-Thomas Jefferson
“An acre of the best ground for hemp, is to be selected and sewn in hemp and be kept for a permanent hemp patch.” – Thomas Jefferson’s Garden book
“Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, sow it everywhere.”
-George Washington
Marc
October 25, 2009 at 7:11 am
Bullshit. There are THC pills out there.
Another lame excuse for the potheads to light up.
Rob
October 26, 2009 at 10:38 am
Actually, Rob, the THC pills don’t have the same level of THC transmission as does. Marinol has other issues with efficacy as well compared to straight inhalation of medicinal marijuana.
Also, the costs of the medication are prohibitively expensive for many who use it(if you just Google “Marinol” you can get an easy list of prices).
I do not promote the use of marijuana for recreational use, but there are those who could benefit from its medicinal values. I would like to add, Rob, that you do your research before spouting off bs.
Ginger Brew
October 26, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I will not support any politician in this election cycle who hasn’t actively supported this bill’s immediate passage.
Do you hear me?
rob
October 27, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I have a debilitating condition, and the passage of this bill would make my life, and my family’s a lot easier. I would finely be seen as a sick person rather than a criminal in the state that I was born and raised in.
Medicinal marijuana needs to be legalized. To many lives have been ruined so far by the lies spread by the government and the grandaddy of lies Harry J. Anslinger. Politicians need to admit their mistake, suck it up, and stop making people who are sick suffer more.
Amanda
October 30, 2009 at 8:40 am
I think Rob needs to do a little more research!
Don
October 30, 2009 at 7:13 pm
i think that all the people who cant find the compation in their hearts over legalizing medicinal marijuana should spend a couple of days with an ill person and see if they still think the same way because they dont live with an illness they dont know what its like and if they do have an illness they need to try the medicine and see if it works for them we all need diffrent and do diffrent things when ill and who knows maybe this is what more of us need i know that when i am haveing severe pain and a panic attack nothing calms me down more than medical marijuana and i can deal with life again i have been on alot of meds.(percribed)and they really mess me up
sandra hughes
November 8, 2009 at 11:58 am
I have ra weigh 95 lb. from 125. i fight ever day for life. anofe said.law or no law I will fight to stay alive!!!!!!!
mel
November 10, 2009 at 7:25 am
I just refuse to ingest what the doctors prescribe for my constant back pains. After a car accident, my back has always been like this… It’s nerve wrecking (literally!!)!!! I need my medicine and cannot get it (legally) here in Illinois. My vote will go to the politicians in favor of SB 1381, no doubt!! If the bill doesn’t pass the House of Representatives I will gladly move to an Enlightened State such as Colorado or California.
Sciatica Sucks
January 8, 2010 at 8:50 pm
As we all know SB109 passed on Tuesday setting regulations for younger patients and doctors. Thursday in the state capital our senate committee will take public comment so please get out and exercise your free speech if you can on Thursday.
Colorado Medical LLC
February 4, 2010 at 8:50 am
I support legal use of Medical Marijuana for chronic pain cancer and all the before mentioned uses. But did u know that even states like California who has had Medical Marijuana the longest deny patients on organ and tissue waiting lists the organs because they use LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA. When you die and your a MMJ patient they are happy to take what ever good organs left in you. But if you need an organ and your a MMJ patient you are out of luck. This is true in Illinois as we speak. The state says they do not decide this the Doctors and Hospitals do.
Bruce
February 8, 2010 at 12:47 pm
I was born and raised in illinois but if they don’t realize how much of a postive impact this could have for so many suffering people than I’m dying in Cali with a blunt in my hand
Doug
March 28, 2010 at 3:33 pm