Pubdate: Fri, 06 May 2011
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 2011 The State Journal-Register
Contact: http://service.sj-r.com/forms/letters.asp
Website: http://www.sj-r.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425
Author: Andy Brownfield, The State Journal-Register
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?259 (Cannabis - Medicinal - Illinois)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FAILS AGAIN IN ILLINOIS HOUSE

For the second time in 2011, the Illinois House has voted down a bill 
to allow chronically ill citizens to use medical marijuana to treat 
their maladies.

The proposal received only 53 yes votes Thursday to 61 in opposition, 
with four lawmakers voting "present." A similar measure failed by 
four votes on Jan. 6. Sixty votes were needed for passage.

"It turns out, even though there were 53 ("yes" votes) on the board, 
I had 58 votes," said sponsor Rep. Lou Lang, D-Chicago. "Two people 
voted 'no' because they saw it was going to fail, three people voted 
'present' because they saw it was going to fail."

Lang said he will seek another roll call if he can find two more 
votes to pass the plan, and he vowed to make any reasonable changes 
to get those votes.

Supporters had been optimistic about the measure's chances Thursday, 
because House Minority Leader Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, publicly 
backed the bill last month, after voting against the previous proposal.

House Bill 30 "is not about drugs, it is not about marijuana, it's 
about healthcare," Lang said during floor debate. It would "help 
people who can't get out of bed because they're too doped up on 
morphine or Oxycontin."

Chronically ill patients, certified by their doctor and the state 
Department of Public Health, would have been allowed to buy 2.5 
ounces of marijuana every 14 days. They would have been allowed to 
possess no more than 2.5 ounces at any one time to prevent 
stockpiling for sale, Lang said.

The measure voted on Thursday also called for a limited number of 
non-profit dispensaries, restricted the diseases for which pot could 
be prescribed and eliminated earlier provisions that would have 
allowed patients to grow their own marijuana.

Despite the changes, one opponent still worried that abuse could occur.

"I don't discount the pain and suffering that's going on out there it 
was a tough vote," said Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, who voted 
against the measure. "One of my (local) chiefs of police is a retired 
DEA agent in Jacksonville, and he was gravely concerned. Every local 
law enforcement official called me in opposition."

Opponents also said the measure would still conflict with federal 
law, which labels cannabis as a Schedule One controlled substance the 
highest classification prohibiting all use.

"This is not a medicine, this is an illegal substance," said Rep. 
Patricia Bellock, R-Westmont, said.

Bellock said Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed a medical 
marijuana bill after two U.S. attorneys said action could be taken 
against state employees who enforced the proposal.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake