Medical Marijuana's Buzz Mellowed, Shot Down In IL House

By Karl Klockars in News on Nov 30, 2010 8:40PM

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.

According to the Illinois Observer, the vote actually had more support than the final vote implies, but 3 votes switched sides at the last minute (one literally at the last second), forcing bill sponsor Lou Lang to "postpone consideration." The postponement means that there is no official record of how people voted, and could technically could return for another vote if it gets more backing. Even though the bill's chances were deemed as "good," since the vote only ever went as high as 56, the likelihood it'll return to the floor for a vote appears unlikely for this go-round.

Bummer.

*No, really. Montel Williams.