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First med-mar hurdle cleared with GOP votes

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Illinois

* Yes, it’s just a committee vote - and the first committee vote in the original chamber at that. But two House Republicans voted for the medical marijuana bill in committee today.

From a press release…

A bill to allow Illinois residents to use medical marijuana in the treatment of their debilitating medical conditions moved one step closer to becoming law Wednesday when it was approved 11-4 by the House Health and Human Services Committee. It will now be considered by the full 118-member House of Representatives.

House Bill 1, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie), would allow people suffering from specific medical conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Qualified patients would be able to obtain marijuana from one of up to 60 dispensaries, which would acquire marijuana from up to 22 cultivation centers. The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Financial & Professional Regulation would regulate the cultivation, acquisition, and distribution of marijuana.

According to the MPP, Republicans voting “Yes” were Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch). “No” votes, all GOP, were Reps. Demmer, Hatcher, Hammond and Schmitz.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 11:13 am

Comments

If it gets all the way through and signed, it will be like the parting of the waves.

Comment by gathersno Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 11:38 am
“Whaaaa?” “Whoa!”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 11:43 am
The GOP is harshing my mellow man.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 12:06 pm
Willy, AA is hoping they put migraines on the list of qualifying ailments.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 12:22 pm
===AA is hoping they put migraines on the list of qualifying ailments.===

I have had “those” migraines. Even a dark room has too much light.

You take the House, I’ll take the Senate, maybe we can get someone to add the language. Couldn’t hurt.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 12:41 pm
I know people who have moved out of Illinois because we don’t have legal medical marijuana and they have conditions that it really helps.

And my friends in California say there are easy to find doctors what will write a marijuana RX for whatever ails you.

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 12:53 pm
=== And my friends in California say there are easy to find doctors what will write a marijuana RX for whatever ails you ===

Ah, the modern practice of medicine. “Doctor” McGillicuddy sold an elixir back at the turn of the 20th century and he said it would cure chillblains, agita, furuncle, ague, apoplexy, consumption, pyrexia and softening of the brain. Will pot cure those too?

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:08 pm
if you’re a republican and you support something like this you should just turn in your elephant ears and exit stage left. the war on drugs is one of those things that Republicans can and should stand united on and it’s disappointing these 2 people decided to stand down.

Comment by shore Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:13 pm
===the war on drugs is one of those things that Republicans can and should stand united on===

Shore, with respect, why do you think so? It’s not as if the war on drugs has been successful. In fact, by nearly every measure it’s been a colossal failure. And it doesn’t represent smaller government. It represents the opposite. It’s anti-trade and anti-freedom. It’s nanny-state on steroids. It costs money and doesn’t save anything.

I could go on, but my question is sincere: why should Republicans stand united on this?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:18 pm
- the war on drugs is one of those things that Republicans can and should stand united on -

Yes, everyone involved should be proud of denying cancer patients a solution to their pain for such a successful policy…

Are you serious?

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:19 pm
When I read the SJ-R’s nasty, gut the poor ole’ retiree’s pensions I get nauseous. It happens often. Glad to see that the’res some potential relief on the way. Hmm, I wonder if state insurance would cover that….

Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:20 pm
Conservatives say (and I agree to a point) that gun control laws do not keep guns off the street. At the same time, they seem to believe that outlawing marijuana keeps it off the street.

It seems a paradox to me.

Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:22 pm
Marijuana has been outlawed for decades and it hasn’t stopped any users. It’s only drained tax dollars to battle cartels at the border and incarcerate casual users who get busted.

Legalize it, control it like tobacco and alcohol, and tax it. Find a better way to measure its near-term impact, i.e. blood alcohol, versus whether or not someone has had it in their system for 30 days, so safety issues can be better managed. Hard to determine when an individual is driving or at work under the influence of marijuana today.

Think of the jobs to be created! Especially within our IL agricultural economy.

Comment by Midwest Mom Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:45 pm
I’m confused. Does Concealed carry relate to transporting med marijuana?

If the med mar passes then somebody HAS to start making twinkies again.

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:06 pm
Great. It’s about time. AND it’s anything BUT “disappointing” and a call for 2 GOP Reps. to LEAVE the Party for doing the right thing and helping ultimately to truly relieve a lot of people here in Illinois, as elsewhere, with debilitating diseases from their serious, daily pain through the appropriate and regulated usage of med. mar. Anybody got a KitKat Bar? Give me a break! I repeat, it’s about time–and it is reFRESHing to see certain Republicans to have the guts within to say “YES” to a measure that truly eases folks’ unnecessary suffering. If all the GOP in Illinois can ever do, as has been debated exhaustively on this Blog by many, is say “NO,” the Party will only then continue to stay stuck in the Mud and in the Minority in this Land of (RePUBlican President!) Lincoln for a long time to come, Shore!! (But if that’s what you want, so be it–nobody says you don’t have a right to your Opinions)!

Now, to get back to the Issue above and now that it HAS passed through Committee, the entire Legislature finally needs to pass this LONG-Overdue reform, and then see Gov. Pat QUINN do the right thing also and sign it into Law already!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:16 pm
== chillblains, agita, furuncle, ague, apoplexy, consumption, pyrexia and softening of the brain. Will pot cure those too?==

My friends in California claim it does!

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:17 pm
Dupage Dan
If we can get all the legistrators to smoke pot, we might cure corruption.

Comment by Rufus Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:40 pm
- LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 1:22 pm:

“It seems a paradox to me.”

Guns are in the Constitution… BUT I will repress my Libertarian instincts and withhold further comment…

Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:45 pm
Here’s a graphic with pretty much everything you need to know about how the War on (Some) Drugs is working. Addiction rates stay exactly the same, while spending goes through. the. roof.

http://gizmodo.com/5951344/drugs-addiction-vs-drug-control-spending-more-statistics-graphics-should-be-animated

Comment by Colossus Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:54 pm
Okay, legalize it and tax it-always seemed like a no-brainer to me; Shore’s comment reinforces my belief that I should switch parties; the problem is that I would be immediately identified as ant-gun, even though Phelps is a Democrat…

Comment by downstate commissionet Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 3:20 pm
Legalize it, not just med mar, but for everyone of legal drinking age. Grow it here, put people to work here, now, processing it, marketing it, selling it. Most importantly, tax it.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 3:20 pm
Plenty of Republicans have spoken against the war on drugs. The Paul boys come to mind. William Buckley. George Schultz. George Will.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 3:42 pm
“Shore, with respect, why do you think so? It’s not as if the war on drugs has been successful. In fact, by nearly every measure it’s been a colossal failure. And it doesn’t represent smaller government. It represents the opposite. It’s anti-trade and anti-freedom. It’s nanny-state on steroids. It costs money and doesn’t save anything.”

Sounds just like me, but better written. How can anyone who is truly conservative support the big government war on drugs?

Comment by wishbone Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 3:50 pm
and if you can stop arresting people for marijuana possession you will clear out quite a few IDOC prisoners. Look at the numbers and you may actually get closer to solving your “overcrowding” issues.

Comment by not a teacher Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 3:59 pm
Thanks for giving me the House, Willy. Not.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 4:18 pm
- the war on drugs is one of those things that Republicans can and should stand united on-

Shore- lumping legalization of marijuana with the war on drugs is basically the same argument as lumping Concealed Carry with an assault rifle ban.

They are different issues but seem scarier when used with words such as war and assault.

Marijauna is not a problem but the black market of marihuana is a problem.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 4:19 pm
===Thanks for giving me the House, Willy. Not.===

Either Chamber on the GOP side is not too appealing for “Oswego Willy”, I figured I would at least give Oberweis, Radogno, and McCarter a fair shot …

Maybe I can Golf with Tom Cross if I take the House?

When you decide which Chamber, let me know. We can hook up for Lunch - Cheetos, Pop-Tarts, maybe Funyuns?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 4:28 pm
This is just another example of why rank and file voters see the GOP as out of touch.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 4:33 pm
=== Joe M - Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 2:17 pm:

=== chillblains, agita, furuncle, ague, apoplexy, consumption, pyrexia and softening of the brain. Will pot cure those too? ===

My friends in California claim it does! ===

It’s a MIRACLE!

BTW, help me out - what medical school did your “friends from California” graduate from?

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 4:50 pm
Hey, un …(cruch, crunch) - AA -,

(Crunch)

I got an Idee-er,

We should, um, (digging in the bottom of the ‘Cheetos’ bag) … get … together and talk … to, like, the House and Senate ‘people’ ….(crunch) and get them to vote for it….

Whadda think? (Crunch)

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 5:23 pm
any one with a green house and can get a license is going to make a ton of money

Comment by county chairman Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 7:18 pm
I’m alive today because a hospice nurse recommended that I get off the prescribed pharma products that were killing me.
I would like to thank all 11 Reps that have shown compassion and great common sense. One thing missing is an “avenue” to correct issues that may arise WHEN they arise instead of allowing them to potentially sink. the pilot program,that said, THANK YOU 11!!!!!!

Comment by Illinois medcannmike Wednesday, Mar 6, 13 @ 8:16 pm