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Medical marijuana bill clears the House

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Illinois

* As we’ve already discussed, a bipartisan deal was reached on extending and expanding the medical marijuana program. It advanced a notch yesterday…

The Illinois House has approved a plan to expand the state’s medical marijuana pilot program by two-and-a-half years and add post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness to the list of allowed conditions.

Lawmakers voted 86-27 on Monday to advance the measure, which Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner supports. It now goes to the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.

Illinois’ four-year pilot program is set to sunset at the end of 2017. Under the bill, it will continue to July 1, 2020.

* Activists are cheering the progress…

“I’m thrilled,” said Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple, a family medicine physician in Glenview who is chairwoman of the advisory board. “We were all concerned that this whole thing was going to go away.”

Anne Berg, a pharmacist and the agent in charge at Professional Dispensaries of Illinois, a suburban Chicago cannabis dispensary, said they hear from many people, particularly veterans suffering from PTSD, who are looking for an alternative to other drugs that either have been ineffective or caused unwanted side effects.

“I think it’s really going to help,” Berg said Saturday. “We’re going to help some people for whom everything else has failed. People who are looking for another, safe option.”

Watch our live session coverage post for rapid updates.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 9:58 am

Comments

Look at that.

Compromise works! Progress!

Kudos to Rauner and Lang for getting this done.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:02 am
Any victory in expanding marijuana is good. I hope that one day we can expand MMJ even further.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:10 am
Fingerprinting is going to keep participation numbers low.

Comment by Beaner Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:20 am
Sad.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:20 am
Why is the state police between the doctor and the medicine?

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:35 am
To the people this can help, it’s a Godsend. I hope we just quietly celebrate the relief of these folks and let the pilot program do what it’s intended to do.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 10:44 am
Strong testimony from Rep. Butler was very moving.

@Saluki - it is sad that there are those who lack compassion towards those who are sick and dying. It is a plant, get over it.

Comment by frisbee Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 11:45 am
I heard the bill was sponsored by Hostess….

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Thank goodness. Much needed relief for some more patients, although chronic pain would help many people too. We will take every little victory we can get and work towards improving our MMJ program very seriously. I love it. Now, sign please Gov Rauner.

Comment by Petey Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 12:27 pm
saluki’s trying to be the last prohibitionist standing. if only there were some kind of flower that could help the close-minded…

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 1:00 pm
@ghost no this bill was sponsored by so called activist turned paid lobbyist.

Only ones happy about this are those activists om the right side of thing$$$$$

Comment by Bpepe Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Still too onerous. Easier to get on the street.

Comment by Interstate Idler Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 2:06 pm
Meep!

Comment by Upside down Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 2:44 pm
I hope some of our veterans get relief from PTSD.

Saluki must be one of those older baby boomer grads of Carbongdale. I thought SIU was a party school? Don’t be so uptight man. Everyone’s doing it.

Comment by Payback Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 3:45 pm
This is excellent news.

However there are many out there, and I am one of them, that is concerned that this will lead to the expansion of all types of use of marijuana.

And even then I have mixed emotions. part of me says this is probably no worse than alcohol and it should be one’s personal decision. Another says we do not need even ore drug availability, and let’s face it the newer forms of marijuana are reported to be far more potent than the joint of the ’60’s.

A major factor is being able to test with the ease of alcohol when one is driving. It is one thing to do pot in your own home it is another to be on the road.

I will be watching on how this all plays out in Colorado and the verdict is not in.

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 5:37 pm
Federalist,
This is a medical cannabis program, not recreational use. And yes some of the products a potent to assist in pain relief but, many strains dont even have THC in them. THC is the psychoactive cannbanoid.

Comment by Petey Tuesday, May 31, 16 @ 9:10 pm
Why is your FOID revoked? No background checks with OxyContin, and you get to keep your guns? Just because someone got shot in refer madness, doesn’t make it true

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Jun 1, 16 @ 7:40 am