Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2010 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: http://www.suntimes.com/aboutus/feedback/index.html Website: http://www.suntimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81 Author: Alexander E. Sharp Note: The Rev. Alexander E. Sharp is executive director of Protestants for the Common Good, an Illinois faith-based advocacy organization. IT'S TIME TO PASS MEDICAL POT LAW IN ILLINOIS HOUSE Two years ago, if you had asked whether legalizing medical marijuana should be a high priority for religious people, I would have smiled politely and said "no." Things change. Last Saturday, I participated in a press conference on behalf of Protestants for the Common Good to support the passage of the "Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act," Senate Bill 1381. This bill was approved in the Illinois Senate last spring and is pending in the House. Why is this bill so important? The first reason is simple. Passing this legislation would be an act of compassion and mercy. Victims of cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other serious health problems have given compelling testimony that cannabis (the technical term for marijuana) provides relief from pain and suffering. This relief often can come in no other way. The number of people who use marijuana for this purpose is small, but if you are one of them, or have a family member who is, the issue of legalization suddenly becomes urgent. The second reason this bill matters is that passing it would send the message that it's OK to speak honestly and intelligently about drug policy in Illinois. That is very difficult right now. State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) says he has approached all 118 members of the Illinois House. He reports that 92 say privately to him, "This is a good bill. I hope you can pass it." But of this group, only 52 are prepared to vote "yes." They fear "spin politics" that will label them as "soft on drugs." They're afraid to do what they know is right. In reality, the arguments against this bill don't hold up. The biggest fear is that legalizing medical marijuana use will encourage recreational marijuana use, especially among the young. But similar bills have been passed in 14 other states, and in the 11 states where follow-up analysis has been done, the evidence suggests no such effect. Others claim the bill is unnecessary because Marinol, a pill that contains marijuana, already has Federal Drug Administration approval. But this drug has only one of the 85 ingredients contained in cannabis; consequently, it does not provide relief for everyone. Besides, taking a pill is hardly helpful when one is nauseated and vomiting. To be sure, there are some horror stories out of California, where a medical marijuana bill was passed without adequate safeguards and seems to have led to some recreational use. But the legislation being considered in Illinois includes extensive regulations concerning access, quantity and physician oversight. It's also a pilot project requiring legislative approval to continue after three years -- providing ample time to assess whether the sky has fallen. As for the political downsides? My guess is that lawmakers' fears of a voter backlash for doing the right thing are greatly exaggerated. A recent Pew Research Center poll shows that a whopping 73 percent of Americans support the use of marijuana as medicine. Still, Lang deserves plaudits for leading this effort, as does Bill Haine (D-Alton) in the Senate. Their bill is one of compassion and, indeed, sanity -- two qualities that are all too often absent from the political process in Springfield. Dr. Quentin Young, Illinois' public health advocate, said at Saturday's press conference that he will urge Gov. Quinn to sign the bill when it appears on his desk. It is time for the Illinois General Assembly to put it there. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake