Pubdate: Fri, 02 Aug 2013
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5QwXAJWY
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: David Roeder
Page: 12

MEDICAL POT OKD, BUT CAN'T GROW YOUR OWN

In becoming the 20th state to legalize medical marijuana, Illinois is
trying not to repeat the mistakes of others.

That means the law says no pot for people with a general complaint of
pain, a loophole in California, Arizona and Colorado. The bill signed
Thursday by Gov. Pat Quinn specifies 35 conditions that would make a
person eligible for cannabis therapy.

It also means Illinois won't allow qualified recipients to grow their
own weed. The law places numerical and geographic limits on where
marijuana can be cultivated and purchased.

And the measure tries to combat the specter of "pot doctors,"
physicians whose only business is to certify people for the drug.
House Bill 1, which Quinn said "has the nation's strictest safeguards
to prevent abuse," requires that the doctor certifying a patient for
medical marijuana must be the same one treating the underlying malady.

"The big distinction between the states that have problems with
medical marijuana and those that do not is the strength of their
regulations. Illinois is trying to do it right," said Chris Lindsey,
legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, a
Washington-based advocacy group that helps draft legislation.

Quinn, who signed the measure at a University of Chicago clinic,
portrayed it as a compassionate answer for people who are chronically
ill. Studies have shown that cannabis helps relieve pain and symptoms
of certain illnesses. Critics argue the same benefits are available
from legal medications.

But for now, nothing much changes. The law doesn't take effect until
Jan. 1. The first legal hit on a joint probably won't come until later
next year, experts said.

Administrative rules to implement the law can't be proposed until it
takes effect, and then there's at least a 90-day period for public
review and comment. Coordination could cause delay.

There's also the troublesome issue of who gets certified to grow or
sell the pot. It could be an insider's dream, although the legislation
bans political contributions from anybody in those businesses.

Here are answers to some questions about the bill:

Q. Who qualifies for the marijuana?

A. People with documentable conditions such as cancer, muscular
dystrophy and lupus. Regardless of health, people can't get it if they
are minors, have felony drug convictions or work in certain
occupations, such as police officer or school bus driver.

Q. How much can they get?

A. Up to 2.5 ounces for any 14-day period, unless a doctor certifies
the need for more and the state Department of Public Health agrees.
Recipients will get an ID card that state officials promise will be
impossible to fake.

Q. Where do they get it?

A. At any of 60 dispensaries that are supposed to be spread around the
state. Growing will be done at 22 cultivation centers, one in each
State Police district.

Q. Will my neighborhood get a scourge of pot clinics?

A. Aside from requiring dispersed selling points, the law also
specifies that they must abide by local zoning laws and can't be in a
residential area or near schools. It leaves open the issue of whether
towns could write their own zoning rules to keep them out.

Q. What about people who smoke the stuff and drive?

A. They could be prosecuted for impaired driving. Driving records
would show that they are certified to use marijuana.

Q. How do I get a contract to grow or sell pot?

A. The Department of Agriculture will approve and regulate the 22
cultivation centers. The Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation will do the same for the 60 dispensaries. Heavy regulation
is promised, including 24-hour security at the cultivation centers and
inventory control.

Q. What's in this financially for the state?

A. The growers will pay a 7 percent tax that's designed to defray
enforcement costs. Buyers will pay a 1 percent tax, same as for
pharmaceuticals.
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MAP posted-by: Matt