(Springfield, IL) – March 9, 2011. An Illinois House panel today voted to approve the use of medical marijuana for individuals who suffer from chronic pain and debilitating medical conditions, such as Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and cancer.
The Illinois House Human Services Committee voted 6-5 on the legislation, House Bill 30, to allow patients to posses 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana for a 14-day period in which the need has been certified, in many cases, by two, separate doctors.
“This legislation is intended to alleviate pain in people suffering debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer, and I know a majority of lawmakers recognize the underlying medical benefits of medical marijuana,” said State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), the measure’s chief sponsor.
“My goal is persuade a majority of lawmakers to vote their knowledge and their conscience.”
Under the proposed three-year pilot project, the Illinois Department of Public Health would administer the program and would identity cards to patients with debilitating medical conditions to allow them to purchase medical marijuana at registered, non-profit medical cannabis organizations.
Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would consider signing the legislation if it reaches his desk.
Under Lang’s legislation, a patient would have to submit to the Illinois Department of Public Health a physician’s written certification that the patient would be likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from cannabis and that the patient has a qualifying medical conditions, such as: alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C, epilepsy, etc.
A CBS-TV nationwide poll, conducted January 27-30, 2011, found that an overwhelming of Americans, 77%, back the use of medical marijuana. The poll breaks down support by age group:
- 86% – 18-29
- 74% – 30-44
- 82% – 45-64
- 63% – 65+
Lang said. “No one should be denied a health care treatment that might improve their quality of life.”
Other House sponsors include State Rep. Angelo “Skip” Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) and State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago).
Gov. Pat Quinn
Do you have a link or a cite to that CBS poll? Google isn’t turning it up.
Posted by Dan | March 9, 2011, 2:13 PMVanity Fair, April 2011, p. 68.
Posted by David Ormsby | March 9, 2011, 2:20 PMwhere do i register for medical cannabis in illinois
Posted by chris | March 17, 2011, 1:48 PMChris,
Nowhere yet. The committee vote is only the first step in the legislative process.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | March 17, 2011, 2:24 PMHow is the Illinois marijuana law different from the one in the state of Colorado? Are patients who need it for medical use required certification by pgysicians?
Posted by Dr. Richard Ng | April 4, 2011, 10:57 PMThere is no law yet. This is only a bill on the floor of the House.
Posted by David Ormsby | April 7, 2011, 2:10 PMFinally, some lawmakers doing something good for a change. They need to quit working for corporations and start working for the People again. Industrial Hemp bill has passed IL House. This is huge considering we can make cheap and clean ethanol from it. make paper, biodeg. plastics. houses. the list goes on for thousands. This along with the BILLIONS they can tax from medical use, cannabis can literally solve all our problems.
Watch RICK SIMPSON STORY on youtube.
Posted by BDG | April 10, 2011, 8:54 PMHopefully the bill passes this time around. We dont need another hold back on the bill like last time.. OUR CITIZENS NEED THE MEDICIAN THAT MAKES THEM ABLE TO FUNCTION. AND NOT LIKE A MINDLESS ZOMBIE LIKE THE LEGAL OPIATES THAT OUR DOCTORS GIVE TO PATIENTS TO RELIVE PAIN
Posted by Bigsbee | April 13, 2011, 10:49 PMI hope they allow it for Chronic Pain…
Posted by Jeff | April 15, 2011, 10:47 AMNow for recreational legalization
Its a plant for gods sake..and well said DGB
Posted by Ryan | April 15, 2011, 6:55 PMEnforce alchohol laws, crack down on harder (dangerous) drugs.. No reason to keep weed illegal.
I have juvenile glaucoma, would they let me have medical marijuana?… What if I said, the juvenile glaucoma gives me headache and eye stress unless I smoke?
Posted by John S | April 16, 2011, 12:14 AMThis bill will never become law. The government makes FAR more money from skimming drug traffic money than by taxing it if illegal. It’s worth GOLD when it’s illegal. It’s worth ZIP if it’s just a regular weed. Think about it. NOW, think about the threat to the pharmaceutical industry if the stuff works as a palliative or cure for any of the above medical conditions. Big pharma is scared to DEATH of hemp becoming legal. They’ll lose billions. This combo of factors is why it will never be legal. Sad but true.
Posted by Marvin8 | April 16, 2011, 12:44 AMGood, that way they can look at the world and say “hey, why use money who are we to say we deserve more stuff just because we have money and they dont”, finally maybe people will slowly start to realize that money is a big problem in this world and if we get rid of it we can start doing some more important things than worrying about a piece of paper that doesnt exist
Posted by sal | April 19, 2011, 11:47 PMfirst off there are many products we can m,ake out of marijauana the country is falling apart and all we can do is waist taxpayers money ondea busting people for weed when we
Posted by teddy ray | April 21, 2011, 6:11 AMPlease… My wife is 47, she is in hospice in Chicago. I can’t find any where to purchase because we live in an area where every other house is a police officer.. She needs this so bad, her life is a nightmare of pain. Thanks for everything everyone is doing hopefully she won’t wait long. I pray.
Posted by Gary | June 26, 2011, 6:09 PM