Medical Marijuana Bill Advances

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 28, 2009 2:20PM

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:

The program would last three years unless lawmakers renew it. Patients would be issued registry identification cards by the Illinois Department of Public Health. They would be limited to possessing six cannabis plants during a 60-day period, of which no more than three could be mature. Qualifying ailments include glaucoma, cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer's disease.

As expected the vote was almost exactly down party lines and the debate grew heated. Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-East Moline) said during debate, "Do you find it at all interesting that people view drugs made by man as better than drugs made by God? This is something that someone can drop in their backyard and find relief from, and there's some of us in this chamber that would prefer Oxycontin, morphine; would prefer mommy's little helper, uppers, downers, all-arounders." Well, as long as you aren't a 911 dispatcher. While the bill moves on to the state house, it could be several months before it's voted on there. Meanwhile, a similar bill already in the house, HB 2514, remains stalled.