Illinois Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Use; Gov. Expected to Sign into Law

[Hissyspit]

Source: Chicago Tribune

@Reuters: RT @ReutersUS: Illinois senate approves medical marijuana use; governor expected to sign into law #breaking

Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill

By Monique Garcia
Clout Street
1:12 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2013

SPRINGFIELD --- The Senate today approved legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients with serious illnesses, sending the measure to Gov. Pat Quinn.

The issue pitted supporters arguing for compassion for those suffering from pain they say only cannabis can ease against opponents who contend the legislation would undermine public safety.

Sponsoring Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, argued the measure is one of the toughest in the nation. Haine said his bill does not reflect other states that have “sloppily” instituted medical marijuana laws.

“This bill is filled with walls to keep this limited,” said Haine, a former Madison County state’s attorney.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-illinois-senate-votes-medical-marijuana-20130517,0,5344892.story

[Drale]

1. The problem with this bill is that

it can only be used by terminal patients. People like my girlfriend who has chronic back pain and only marijuana helps her at this point are fucked.

[jollyreaper2112]

4. Your girlfriend is terminal

She's alive, right? Last time I checked, that's a fatal condition. She should get her pot.

[Drale]

8. I don't think they will see it the same way

she should but not with this bill

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Another step in the right direction.

Hopefully they'll expand the reach as they find the world doesn't come to an end.

[rhett o rick]

3. Just more work for DoJ to shut them down. The people might want MM but Big Pharma doesnt. nm

[Tippy]

5. Illinois suprised me with this one

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. It took 10 freaking years.

[CountAllVotes]

6. Serious or chronic conditions

>> The proposal would create a four-year trial program in which doctors could prescribe patients no more than 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. To qualify, patients must have one of 33 serious or chronic conditions -- including cancer, multiple sclerosis or HIV -- and an established relationship with a doctor.

Patients would undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check and would be banned from using marijuana in public and around minors. Patients also could not legally grow marijuana, and they would have to buy it from one of 60 dispensing centers across Illinois. The state would license 22 growers.

Why is it that I rather think that many people that do qualify are not into being "fingerprinted and have a criminal background check" done on them?

As for the other "33 serious or chronic conditions", what are they?

[Oldtimeralso]

15. The medical conditions are:

As written in the bill

""Debilitating medical condition" means one or more of
the following:
(1) cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human
immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency
syndrome, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
Crohn's disease, agitation of Alzheimer's disease,
cachexia/wasting syndrome, muscular dystrophy, severe
fibromyalgia, spinal cord disease, including but not
limited to arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, hydromyelia,
syringomyelia, Rheumatoid arthritis, fibrous dysplasia,
spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and
post-concussion syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis,
Arnold-Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia,
Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), Parkinson's, Tourette's,
Myoclonus, Dystonia, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, RSD
(Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type I), Causalgia, CRPS
(Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type II),
Neurofibromatosis, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyneuropathy, Sjogren's syndrome, Lupus, Interstitial
Cystitis, Myasthenia Gravis, Hydrocephalus, nail-patella
syndrome, or the treatment of these conditions; or
(2) any other debilitating medical condition or its
treatment that is added by the Department of Public Health
by rule as provided in Section 45.

[duhneece]

7. Slowly we turn, step by step, inch by inch

We continue toward the tipping point.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. That makes me sick!

[JeffHead]

12. Me too!

I'm feel like I'm coming down with something. I'd better call my Doctor. This could be serious!

[musiclawyer]

10. Some State will hit the sweet spot soon .....

CA should have done this without the fingerprinting and for any condition for which a licensed MD issues an Rx

By that one several other states will be full blown legal. The only reason to monitor medical use will be academic

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. yugo, gov!

and shame on Haine for putting in so many roadblocks.

Severe Pain is a serious illness.

[madrchsod]

14. the feds will come in and shut the it down

the feds are under orders from big pharma who is getting into the medical marijuana business. they have the money to hire the best growers and and supply them with the best techology to grow wicked strains to compound into easy to take pills.