The day has finally arrived
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Gov. Pat Quinn will make Illinois the 20th state to legalize the use of marijuana to treat dozens of incapacitating and life-threatening illnesses by signing legislation authorizing the drug’s use, his office confirmed Wednesday evening.
Quinn has scheduled a Thursday bill-signing ceremony at the University of Chicago’s Center for Care and Discovery to enact a law his office said would “ease pain for those who suffer from debilitating medical conditions.”
The governor’s action comes on legislation that took repeated efforts over several years to pass the General Assembly amid worries that using marijuana as a legal drug might serve as a gateway for some to embark on more serious drug use.
The legislation Quinn will sign establishes a four-year pilot program in which those suffering from one of 42 named ailments or diseases, including cancer, HIV/AIDS and ALS, could obtain the drug with a doctor’s prescription.
This will be the most restrictive law in the nation. I don’t particularly like that, but the idea is to get something passed to show the citizenry that society won’t collapse. Once that happens, the General Assembly can move forward with other bills.
I have advocated for medical marijuana for years and I have watched as comments opposed to the idea have faded away. Yes, there is still opposition, quite a bit of it nursed and ginned up by people and companies with a vested interest in the completely failed “War on Drugs.”
But this law is simple common sense. We have plenty of legal drugs in this country that kill people, addict them, give them horrific side effects. Marijuana doesn’t do that.
So, I for one am a very happy man today.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:41 am:
Sniff Sniff Caugh Caugh Hack…….can I get a prescription please?
- Spliff - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:44 am:
I hope he signs it at 4:20
- too obvious - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:44 am:
There was going to be a big rally in support of the signing, but everyone woke up 4 hours late.
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:44 am:
One problem with the new law is how expensive it will be to enter the market here and how generally restrictive it is. It is likely to dissuade patients from taking advantage of it and it will raise the cost to suppliers to the point where few will be able to enter the market.
I hope I’m wrong but we shall see.
- walkinfool - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:47 am:
Lou Lang deserves credit for sticking with this thru thick and thin.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:49 am:
“Whaaa … Whoa … Wow …”
To the Post,
Medical Marijuana is a good move. Restrictive laws, the toughest in the country is good too…
Glad some relief is on the way for many.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:50 am:
My lumbago is acting up again. Good timing.
- Jackie - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:53 am:
I’m not the biggest fan of legalizing another drug, but I hope it helps Illinois’ economy. I hope in the future we can look back and say this was the right decision.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:53 am:
I wonder if it could be prescribed for dealing with headaches brought on by contemplating the political shenanigans engaged in by the political ne’er do wells of Illinois?
- Samurai - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:55 am:
Helps relieve the yips on the course…Fore!
- Spliff - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 10:57 am:
Not directly related but have there been any estimates on how much tax revenue has been generated by the states that fully legalized?
- dupage dan - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:04 am:
More seriously, my brother is battling cancer right now and is getting some serious chemo. He is taking some of the standard anti-nausea Rx but, as he lives in the sunshine state, has access to medical pot. He says it’s a godsend to maintain appetite and decrease the nausea.
Illinois’ law appears to be restrictive enough to hopefully avoid the problems occuring in CA with folks getting “scripts” for everything from the sniffles to the blahs. I think it is time for the fed gov’t to engage in some serious research into the efficacy of this drug as it relates to the various conditions it is touted as a treatment for. Never was against that.
I would challenge you, Rich, on your blanket statement that pot doesn’t cause problems (kill people, addict them, side effects). Psychoactive drugs can diminish the ability a person has to drive or operate machinery safely. No, it doesn’t directly kill like a heroin overdose but blanket statements can lead to blanket conclusions. Pot has been found to be mildly addictive - in no way as bad as nicotine but, addictive nonetheless. Dependence can be a serious problem as well. For those who will benefit from this program these issues should not deny them from access. Just make sure you have a designated trip advisor/driver
- MrJM - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:04 am:
@Spliff - An independent analysis by the Colorado Center on Law & Policy found that that state could expect a to see “$60 million in total combined savings and additional revenue for Colorado’s budget with a potential for this number to double after 2017.”
http://www.cclponline.org/postfiles/amendment_64_analysis_final.pdf
Of course, it is still early days (daze?), so those projections may not come to pass.
– MrJM
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:05 am:
A very welcome and positive first-step.
- Spliff - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:11 am:
@MrJM Thanks That’s a lot of green!
- Just Observing - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:13 am:
=== I hope he signs it at 4:20 ===
LOL
- Tom S. - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:13 am:
I have no problem with people smoking pot…it should be decriminalized for all. And I know countless people who are suffering get relief from pot. But promoting smoking — smoking anything — as medicinal makes me uncomfortable. Sure, you can ingest marijuana through eating brownies or something, but we all know the overwhehlming majority of people who use pot medicinally do it by smoking, and that just ain’t healthy.
Look, when I come home from work and feel stressed out, downing two or three glasses of wine makes me feel better. I enjoy it. But I don’t pretend like I’m taking “medicine.”
- Just Observing - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:14 am:
=== I’m not the biggest fan of legalizing another drug, but I hope it helps Illinois’ economy. I hope in the future we can look back and say this was the right decision. ===
@Jackie — This is for prescribed use only. I don’t think prescription drugs are taxed, so, except for job creation, it will not generate direct tax revenue.
- John Boch - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:22 am:
While I disagree that MJ isn’t addictive, I believe the war on drugs has been nothing but an abject failure, similar to Prohibition.
It’s also given us all sorts of infringements upon our rights, including asset forfeiture laws which are widely abused. To say nothing of a funding criminal subclasses much as prohibition did with Al Capone and organized crime families.
It’s long past time to end the war on drugs.
Allow the self-destructive to buy their poison from dispensaries and self-destruct on their own.
Aren’t there at least a couple of European countries that have decriminalized drugs and seen an actual decrease in consumption?
John
- John A Logan - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:23 am:
Amen Tom S. I second that statement. Call me old fashioned, but in my opinion, Legalized smoking of Marijuana for any reason will always seem to defy reason.
- Roadiepig - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:23 am:
About time. Too bad it’s so restrictive but this being a “nanny state” I was not surprised it ended up that way. At some point I still think it will become legal for recreation purposes, but only once enough people demand that it gets treated the same as (the much more damaging society-wise) alcohol. A wise man once told me that it will take the older members ( who bought into the demon weed/war on drugs mentality) to pass away for marijuana to be treated the logical way it should be treated. We just need to find a new cash cow for those who make their living off of drug testing/incarceration once it does become legal so they stop spreading misinformation to keep the money flowing…
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:24 am:
===we all know the overwhehlming majority of people who use pot medicinally do it by smoking.===
Ever heard of a vaporizer? Physicians recommending medical mj almost always recommend vaporizers. You can buy one on Amazon for pete’s sake.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:35 am:
Just legalize it already. It’ll put people to work.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:50 am:
Maybe because I don’t know better, but. It seems 5 oz a month is a lot of pot and over $1,000 a month assuming its not ditch weed. Anywho, go for it, this law and further steps will drop the price.
- georgeatt - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:52 am:
I, for one, am glad that this bill passed but I do feel it is but it is way too restrictive. And people, for God’s sakes, enough of pot jokes…they are old and overused and no longer funny!
- independent - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 11:58 am:
Legalizing it sounds good, but it also comes with problems, a certain percentage, probably about 10-15% of users become very psychologically addicted to it. These active daily (chronic) users experience development delays, if you know any folks who started using as older teens and have been using for 10 or 20 years they are still psychologically only as mature as that of a young adult, not a 30 or 40 year old. This may be a subtle effect but it has serous consequences for their life. I am also concerned about these chronic users in their jobs. Do you want employees who are regular users, do you think they will function at desired levels, probably not. Legalizing it will bring about new problems that will have to be addressed.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
If anyone thinks recreational pot users are going to abuse this Illinois law, you’re smoking something a lot stronger.
Strike up a conversation over a beer with a regular at any tavern in the state and they can hook you up a lot more quickly and easier.
If nothing else, this will help the folks trapped in the vicious cycle created by the legal prescription painkiller cartel.
In 2010, more than 16,000 died from accidental overdoses of prescription painkillers — nasty, debilitating, addictive, dangerous, hard drugs.
It’s a good business, though, albeit immoral.
http://www.pharmalive.com/senate-probes-drugmakers-over-painkillers/
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/PrescriptionPainkillerOverdoses/
- Union Guy - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:12 pm:
And the Governor says this will create 1000 jobs!!
Grow weed, create jobs!! Next we will allow crack and heroin. Another 1000 jobs??
- Southern gentleman - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:17 pm:
One of the few good things that he has done….
- Union Guy - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:17 pm:
Mike Madigan will be giving all his friends and supporters licenses to grow weed!! Get high and send him a check!!
- jake - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:22 pm:
Additional thought: The Governor has no compunction about using the work of the legislature to create a photo op for himself, at the same time with-holding the pay of the legislature for presumably not doing its job. He contributed nothing to crafting this bill. Absolutely shameful and shameless at the same time.
- Stones - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:27 pm:
It’s long overdue….I wish this had been legal back in the ’70’s when it was first considered by the GA.
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
Nice subject change by the Governor.
What law suit?
- Rufus - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
This is a good thing…period..
- Tasty Waffle Fries - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 2:10 pm:
It was signed on Jerry Garcia’s birthday…I’m just saying.
Oh and its a good thing that will help a lot of people.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 2:13 pm:
===It was signed on Jerry Garcia’s birthday===
I’m glad someone mentioned that.
There are no coincidences in Illinois.
- Nickypiii - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 2:21 pm:
This is a weak, restrictive law that is only a first step in a common sense approach to marijuana use. The “war on drugs” has been, and is currently, a war on citizens Constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Most people who ingest cannabis seem pretty happy to me and freedom of choice to use or not use should be more important than to maintain the big business of incarcerating our citizens in the US. The Feds must remove cannabis from the list of schedule one drugs and allow for real testing of the benefits of medical marijuana.
- Gribble - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 2:56 pm:
Jerry Garcia was more known for his (ab)use of Persian White heroin
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:02 pm:
Thank you sir, for your wonderful opinion after the Sun Times article. I’ve heard and read stories from people who said they suffered extremely and who were really helped by marijuana. Marijuana is much less harmful and addictive than some prescription medicines used for the same purposes.
I wish this new law success and hope it paves the way for more reform.
- Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:34 pm:
- Allow the self-destructive to buy their poison from dispensaries and self-destruct on their own. -
I’m sure the veterans that were wounded in service to this country appreciate your label.
You’re not much fun at parties, are you John?
- Just Me - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:43 pm:
Will Illinois be the 20th state to have equal marriage too?
- wishbone - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
“So, I for one am a very happy man today.”
Me too, Rich, me too.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
“Jerry Garcia”
Tommy Chong (a cancer patient) and Cheech Marin were going to attend the bill signing but backed out at the last minute.
Chong apologized and showed some surprising knowledge of Illinois politics. “You know, man, Madigan ought to toke up with Quinn and like relax and pass SB 2404. My governor (Jerry Brown) partied in the 80’s, and look at my state now, man.”
- Archiesmom - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
As someone with MS, I thank the legislators who voted for the bill and PQ for signing it.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 4:01 pm:
===Legalized smoking of Marijuana for any reason will always seem to defy reason.===
Substitute “smoking of marijuana” for “drinking of alcohol” and you would’ve fit right in with the prohibitionists.
- Roadiepig - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 5:03 pm:
Great point Rich, but to folks that defend prohibition of marijuana never seem to get the hypocrisy of their position when alcohol abuse is legal and cause far more harm to our society. Prohibition of booze worked so well back in the 1920’s too, didn’t it?
- danlinn - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 6:53 pm:
Find a way to replace the prison jobs in rural America at the same as educating, skill training and employing folks in impoverished cities and the war on drugs has a chance at ending. Otherwise liberty and health based arguments will keep being trumped by the economics of a prison industry and underground/illegal market that provides work for those who are unemployable.
When I first started advocating for medical cannabis in IL State Rep McKeon was the sponsor and now we have finally allowed sick people access to this plant.
- Been There - Thursday, Aug 1, 13 @ 9:38 pm:
===Strike up a conversation over a beer with a regular at any tavern in the state and they can hook you up a lot more quickly and easier.===
Exactly. This is going to put a lot of us high school pot pushers out of business. You old folks paid in cash and were regular customers. At least while your loved one lived. Glad I was able to help.
- georgeatt - Friday, Aug 2, 13 @ 6:14 am:
Vaporizing marijuana is safe. People no longer have to smoke cannabis, thus relieving anti-pot zealots of any legitimate arguments.
- Nuance - Friday, Aug 2, 13 @ 6:37 am:
Time to invest in Doritos:)
- georgeatt - Friday, Aug 2, 13 @ 9:52 am:
….and there we go again with antiquated pot humor. More pot humor equates to more ignorance.
- Lil Enchilada - Friday, Aug 2, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
It works wonderfully for nausea.