(Chicago, IL) — June 24, 2010. House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie) reports that he has 58 of the 60 votes he needs to win passage of legislation, House Bill 2514, to legalize medical marijuana in Illinois, the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Vernon Clement Jones reported on Monday.
“There is support on both sides,” Lang said Saturday. “What we have is a very narrow piece of legislation that avoids the problems of dispensaries like those in California.”
On Tuesday, the Sun-Times editorial board endorsed the legislation:
We agree with those who say the pot should be used for medical purposes by people living in great physical pain.
But, of course, Illinois continues to prohibit the use of marijuana for medical purposes — even as 14 other states have seen the light.
Illinois Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) is pushing a medical pot bill, one with strict limits, that deserves support across the political spectrum.
In addition to Lang, the bill’s House sponsors include State Reps. Angelo Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood), Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago), Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) and Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Chicago).
A similar measure, sponsored by State Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton), has already passed the Illinois Senate.
Gov. Pat Quinn
my name is mike graham, i’m a 47 year old disabled man. i have suffered from a degenerative condition in my spine. i currently have a spinal cord stimulator and a morphine pump installed inside my body. back during my first spinal fusion, i was prescribed very large doses of medication to battle some of the pain i was in. the oral opiates almost killed me, i was bedridden and had lost over seventy pounds. if not for the recommendation of a hospice nurse, i wouldn’t be here writing letters on this issue, i would have died. i have had three heart attacks and a temporary stroke from pharmaceuticals. my health is NOT good, i shouldn’t be forces to make the choice of continuing to suffer or be considered a criminal!
there are too many people that are suffering needlessly. is cannabis the answer to everything, obviously no, but it works for me, and many others. from MS patients, people suffering from crohn’s, those like myself living with chronic pain and nausea , or those suffering from the ten other specific illnesses or conditions that would qualify to use cannabis under the provisions of this bill. so why shouldn’t a doctor have the ability to alleviate pain and suffering in some, if they can? it doesn’t make sense. i was taking more prescribed medications for the side effects i was having than from the opiates i was taking.
in 2009, we made great strides towards making a difference in the lives of many, and that is why i got involved about six years ago, to make a difference. many folks have put in countless hours to get where we are, and it will take more to get this job complete. state senator haine led the fight through the SENATE and state representative lou lang has gained the support of fellow state reps across the state and on both sides of the aisle. we were proud that 30 SENATORS and the 58 REPS (so far of the 92 that have said that they support it) had the courage, compassion and common sense to allow patients SAFE access . we need more patient’s to help educate those members of the HOUSE that may “not have had any idea the issue affected so many “(honest answer). we need to make it well known, we want some quality of life back!!!
mike graham
Posted by mike graham | August 1, 2010, 12:19 PMillinois cannabis patients group
patient/advocate