Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2011
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5QwXAJWY
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?259 (Cannabis - Medicinal - Illinois)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/geoview/n-us-il (Illinois)

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR CERTAIN ILLNESSES

Reasonable people see a difference between using marijuana to treat 
the symptoms of a serious illness and passing out joints on a 
playground. Yet both acts, under current law, are criminal.

State lawmakers can fix that by passing a pending bill, which in 
previous years has been shot down, that would legalize the medical 
use of marijuana by people with cancer, HIV, Crohn's disease and 
several other illnesses.

Fifteen other states and the District of Columbia have legalized 
medical marijuana, which has been shown to reduce the nausea and 
vomiting that are typical side effects of anti-cancer drugs. It also 
is effective in improving the appetite of AIDS patients, treating the 
pain of multiple sclerosis and treating the pressure within the eye 
caused by glaucoma.

A measure before the Illinois House would allow people with specific 
medical conditions to purchase marijuana from not-for-profit 
dispensaries, so long as they have proof of medical need from their 
doctor. A database would be set up to make sure patients don't buy 
more than 2.5 ounces every 14 days. And the law would expire, if not 
renewed, in three years.

Lawmakers should not fear that supporting this bill will make them 
look soft on crime.

A national poll conducted last year by the Washington Post and ABC 
News found that 81 percent of Americans favor legalizing medical marijuana.

Will there be abuses? Of course. The same can be said of legal 
prescription painkillers, whose misuse can be far more dangerous. But 
the multiple safeguards written into this carefully crafted bill 
should keep the unintended consequences to a minimum while finally 
giving to people in great physical pain the relief they need. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake