FruityBud
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The push to make marijuana into medicine in Illinois has taken a big step forward.
A legislative panel has forwarded the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act to the full Illinois House for a vote.
It is the first time the House will see a plan to let some people legally use marijuana.
Skokie Democrat Lou Lang has shepparded the legislation to this point.
He says the act would give relief to cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis patients who cannot get relief from prescription medicine.
The state would issue the patients a special permit allowing them to have seven marijuana plants and two-ounces of the drug on hand.
Lang says it's a healthcare plan that won't cost the state any real money.
But opponents, including police groups, say legalizing some marijuana is a slippery slope.
The Illinois State Police say they fear a lot of people having access to what a sick person can grow.
Lang calls their arguments a "red herring." The plan now heads for a full vote in the Illinois House, but Lang says it could be a while before he asks for that vote.
He says he has some convincing to do before he'll try to pass the law.
A similar plan in the Illinois Senate came close to passing under the last General Assembly.
Lang says the public supports medical marijuana, and if he can get lawmakers on board with the idea, he thinks he can sell Governor Quinn on it as well.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/by2po3
A legislative panel has forwarded the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act to the full Illinois House for a vote.
It is the first time the House will see a plan to let some people legally use marijuana.
Skokie Democrat Lou Lang has shepparded the legislation to this point.
He says the act would give relief to cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis patients who cannot get relief from prescription medicine.
The state would issue the patients a special permit allowing them to have seven marijuana plants and two-ounces of the drug on hand.
Lang says it's a healthcare plan that won't cost the state any real money.
But opponents, including police groups, say legalizing some marijuana is a slippery slope.
The Illinois State Police say they fear a lot of people having access to what a sick person can grow.
Lang calls their arguments a "red herring." The plan now heads for a full vote in the Illinois House, but Lang says it could be a while before he asks for that vote.
He says he has some convincing to do before he'll try to pass the law.
A similar plan in the Illinois Senate came close to passing under the last General Assembly.
Lang says the public supports medical marijuana, and if he can get lawmakers on board with the idea, he thinks he can sell Governor Quinn on it as well.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/by2po3