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* Press release…
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. today announced that new medical conditions and diseases will not be added to the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act at this time. The pilot program will continue with the 39 conditions and diseases listed in the Act.
The pilot program runs through April 2018.
They blew past their deadline to rule on whether 11 conditions would be added, then announced… nothing?
Sheesh.
*** UPDATE *** And right on schedule…
Veto Message for SB 33
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate,
99th General Assembly:Today I veto Senate Bill 33 from the 99th General Assembly, which would prematurely expand the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program by adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of “debilitating medical conditions” for which a patient may be treated with medical cannabis.
The pilot program is moving forward, but remains in its early stage. Cultivation centers are just beginning to grow their crops, and the first dispensary was licensed at the end of August. No patients have yet been served, and, consequently, the State has not had the opportunity to evaluate the benefits and costs of the pilot program or determine areas for improvement or even whether to extend the program beyond its pilot period.
It is therefore premature to expand the pilot program – before any patient has been served and before we have had the chance to evaluate it.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 33, entitled “AN ACT concerning health”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:33 pm
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=== Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. today announced that new medical conditions and diseases will not be added to the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act at this time pursuant to directive from the Governor’s Office. ===
There, I fixed it for you.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:37 pm
The Rauner administration continues the Quinn administrations policy of ignoring the only new revenue stream available to them.
Comment by 100 Miles West Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:38 pm
Feel the Compassion?
Comment by Anonymous Redux Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:41 pm
IDPH is a disaster under this Governor. The brain drain is real and happening at an accelerated pace. I’ll equipt replacements are put in place or no replacements at all.
Comment by Johnnie F. Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:42 pm
I have a feeling the new conditions and diseases were hardly considered. That would require thoughtful examination and then governing, which this admin doesn’t seem to want to do.
Comment by Politix Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:48 pm
Just more of the continuing amateur hour in IL Executive governot. Amazing.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:51 pm
way to keep stringing people’s hopes along. blanket decision instead of evaluating individual conditions helps them avoid detailed criticism. also prevents people from getting help. thanks, for nothing
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:52 pm
I think the Director is more J.D. than M.D.
Comment by Johnnie F. Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:53 pm
== I veto ,,, which would prematurely expand the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of “debilitating medical conditions” ==
Dearest Governot Raunner:
PTSD. For God’s sake.
ARE you thinking? If so, WHAT are you thinking? Or do you just know how to mumble ‘Veto’?
With lukewarmest personal regards,
sal-says
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:09 pm
Johnnie F., IDPH has been suffering as a result of poor patronage appointed leadership since Blago. Blago hacks ignored and got rid of a number of highly qualified professionals. Quinn simply didn’t help. What quality non-Blago hack leadership that was left was forced to leave as a result of furloughs and the long-term freeze on raises.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this new director. However, Rauner staff hampers the department’s ability to recover from the disastrous Blago/Quinn years.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:10 pm
Cuts Autism funding on Autism Day, vetoes adding PTSD and denies new medical conditions on World Suicide Prevention Day.
Comment by frisbee Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:10 pm
IDPH generally, and Med Mar specifically have been harmed by both Governors Quinn and Rauner.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:15 pm
frisbee, your observation is spot on! I think your comment at 5:10 would make for some great mailers in 3 years.
Comment by Nobody Home Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:17 pm
Meh, the Governor has a valid point. It’s still just a pilot program, let the pilot program do its just, then make an evaluation of the program and whether to expand it.
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:20 pm
Ignored the recommendations of the medical experts he appointed himself.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:24 pm
Just Me: Agree that Rauner has a point on timing, but the timing of the program has been delayed at every stage, way beyond anything reasonable.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:26 pm
Frisbee — Totally agree, but don’t worry, Goldberg will write another snarky letter to the legislature again soon, and all will be forgotten.
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:33 pm
I thought a pilot program was one that actually operated, not one that was just discussed.
Comment by D.P.Gumby Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:46 pm
I love that Lou Lang trying to bring the State into the 21st Century on this issue, but this bill was garbage from the beginning. No home growing, limited medical conditions, a sunset provision, etc. The bill was cobbled together to get it passed and it doesn’t meet the needs of Illinois citizens. By the time patients are able to get any medicine this law will sunset. Start from scratch right now and include any condition your doctor thinks will be relieved by marijuana. State Reps/Sens need to get over the fear of being perceived as weak on crime (so 1990’s) and pass a real medical marijuana bill. Statewide decriminalization of 30 grams or less would be nice too. 10 grams is a joke and doesn’t anyone who works for Bruce Raunger know that how many grams in a ounce? Who buys 10 grams at a time? Just another way for GOV. VETO to show he’s actually doing something as the “executive” of the State.
Comment by qualified somebody nobody sent Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 6:51 pm
Let’s just get the program going. Now.
Comment by jls Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:12 pm
@ walker, I think you have more people then Governor Rauner to blame for the delay.
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:39 pm
Norseman…I hope you are correct about the new Director. I will keep open eyes and an open mind. The loss of MC talent and lack of any solid recruitment plan is devastating for agency operations…and hacks do continue to hamper progress at all levels.
Comment by Johnnie F. Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:47 pm
Sadly, “not being high” has somehow been omitted from the list of medical conditions. I’m sure this was merely an oversight.
Comment by CEA Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:40 pm
Governor Rauner frequently promises he wants Illinois to be the most compassionate and competitive in the country. And yet his administration acts without compassion and stifles a clear opportunity to lead the country in something profitable and morally upright. He is blatantly denying the counsel of his own better informed experts.
Comment by Pub lius Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:37 am
I wish the Gov would’ve picked up the phone and spoken with Senator Hastings about the need for this addition to the Act before he used his veto.
The good senator convinced me for the need in under 3 minutes.
Comment by Lobo Y Olla Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 6:54 am
Rauner seems to be determined to make as many people miserable as possible. I’m surprised he didn’t attach his Turnaround agenda demands to this one.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 7:10 am
As someone who has served his country during the height of the Iraq War, I know this bill would have helped A LOT of our vets get help they need. PTSD leads many vets to do illegal things, such as smoking pot to calm anxiety (not being afraid of trash on the street because you’re on the look out for IEDs, not freaking out when a motorcycle backfires on the street because it sounds awfully close to gunfire, etc.). Zero compassion for the veteran community.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 8:49 am
I sat in a room with two doctors at Barnes and listened to them tell the person I was with that they should ignore the law and find some pot because it would work far better than the very expensive drugs they were taking for their symptoms.
I say that not to say that I know that MM works or that the science is settled, but to say we can’t move forward because Illinois hasn’t treated a single patient yet ignores the fact that other states have been doing this for years now. We can look across borders to see what works and what doesn’t. MM doesn’t work differently in California than it does in Oregon than it does in Colorado than it would in Illinois.
Comment by Nickname#2 Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 8:55 am
@Nickname #2
Bingo! I was obviously overly focused on the vet community (lots of experience). But you touched on it all very well. Doctors are encouraging cancer patients to just smoke pot because: 1. it’s less expensive. 2. besides craving Cheetoh’s, the side-effects are non-existent (back to vets battling PTSD; most PTSD meds have side-effects that include things like suicidal and homicidal thoughts). 3. they know it works.
Heck of a way to lead Governor Rauner!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 9:05 am
Emend (Aprepitant) is way, way down in price… all the way down to about $80-100 per pill. It is designed to assist with nausea and loss of appetite… which just happens to be one of the main things MM may help with. But, we have to wait who knows how many months for the Illinois dispensaries to get up and running to treat the first Illinois patient before we know whether Cheech and Chong were right about the munchies, or whether countless chemo patients all over the world are telling the truth.
Comment by Nickname#2 Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 9:18 am