Here's four minutes of video of a grandfather who decides to try medical marijuana for the first time as a remedy for numerous ailments. more ›

The last time we checked in on the efforts to make medical marijuana legal in Illinois, not even the star power of Montel Williams was enough to move the bill forward in Springfield. Now, it looks like things are gathering steam again. But don't go running for a glaucoma perscription yet. more ›

Not even the immense lobbying power of Montel Williams* could keep our moral overlords from sending medical marijuana down in flames. After being bounced around since February of 2009, despite passing in the Senate and Governor Quinn basically saying "whatever, that's fine," the measure died in the state House by a vote of 53-59-1. more ›

Well, technically it is, as the Chicago Reader points out, but there's a catch and the stalled bill before the legislature still must pass before it becomes available. Check out the whole story here. more ›

It's been a year since we last saw any movement on The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. But as California preps to vote on a measure in November that would legalize marijuana, CBS 2 catches up with SB 1381 which remains dormant in the Illinois State House. But the thing is, there's nothing to catch up on. The bill remains dormant and with an election coming up just months away, it's highly doubtful House speaker Mike Madigan will take any action on the bill at all. more ›

Welcome to June, everyone! What better way to ease your way into the summer months than with another entry to the Chicagoist Podcast Series! Even after a stellar night at the Whistler, we sobered up enough to put together a podcast. Next year I'll remember to get some drunken voicemails to plug into the 'cast. This week, we're spanning the Chicago area and coming up with conversations about saving journalism and providing joints to the diseased. more ›

Supporters of State Bill 1381, proposed to create the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, are exhaling in relief today as the bill narrowly passed the state senate yesterday by a vote of 30-28. According to the Tribune, details of the act: more ›

• A pilot for American Airlines was arrested yesterday for showing up drunk for his London-to-Chicago flight.
• It looks like there will be a new judge in the Drew Peterson case, though who that new judge will be is not yet known.
• For sale: Parking space at Naperville Metra stop. $8,900 OBO.

Senate Bill 1381, also known as The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, is one step closer to reality after the Illinois Senate's Public Health Committee voted 6-2 to advance the bill yesterday. Dan Bernath, assistant director of communications for the lobbying group the Marijuana Policy Project, told the Chi-Town Daily News, “There is a mountain of scientific evidence that it is a very safe and effective medication for some types of disease for some types of patients. For many people, not all, this is the best medicine that best treats their symptoms and their conditions. It’s bizarre to think that the government or law enforcement should be involved in that position." more ›

• RIP, Richard Pegue.
• How much does gun violence cost Chicago each year? According to one report, $2.5 billion.
• The recent parking ticket amnesty period wiped out 135,000 unpaid parking and red-light tickets as well as brought in $7 million. But be ready, the so-called "boot blitz" - due to a lower ticket threshold - begins next month.

Is Illinois heading towards legalized medical marijuana? State Senator John Cullerton (pretty website!) hopes so. He's sponsoring a bill that the Senate Public Health Committee approved 6-4 yesterday. A similar measure failed in the Senate last year, but try, try again. more ›

While SFist cringed at the fatal dose of crime littering the Bay Area, it found solace in Hillary Clinton's San Francisco campaign headquarters opening, which featured loads of exposed mammary glands. In other news, SF Taxi Commission ruled that Satan's cab must keep its (in)famous medallion number, 666; and in an un-fashion-forward frenzy, San Francisco Fashion Week (chortle) bars bloggers from covering and getting smashed at their shows and parties, respectively. Also, they found a... more ›

Music festivals are lots of things to lots of people: to the City, they represent quality of life and revenue draws from tourism; to music fans, they can be a great way to see many of your favorite bands all at once, while checking out new music; to some, they're like a vacation in your own town. But to activists and social movement groups, they're also an opportunity to reach out to people that might... more ›

Happy Father's Day! For those of you who have dads, are dads, or know dads, this one's for you, from all of us at the Gothamist network." It was a week of bizarre, embarassing headlines at DCist. The trial of the local administrative law judge who sued his cleaners for $54 million over a pair of missing pants left everyone shaking their heads. Then the capital city was nearly brought to its knees, twice, by... more ›

On January 26th, 2005, Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, introduced a bill to the Illinois House that would permit the use and possession of marijuana for registered individuals diagnosed with a "debilitating medical condition" by a physician. ">The Medical Cannabis Act would amend Illinois' current Cannabis Control Act that sets penalties for the sale, use and possession of Mary Jane. Under Section 11, the Cannabis Control Act allows for the creation of a state-sanctioned medicinal marijuana... more ›