Pubdate: Tue, 03 Dec 2013
Source: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.dailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/107

DOCTORS ASK FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Illinois - Nearly 250 Illinois physicians put their names behind a
proposal Tuesday that would legalize marijuana for patients with
serious illnesses, hoping to give a boost to the legislation one day
before an anticipated vote on the House floor.

Three of those doctors spoke at a news conference in Chicago, saying
the drug can be a safer and more effective treatment than narcotics
for patients with diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease and
HIV.

They were joined by Julie Falco, a 47-year-old who has multiple
sclerosis. Falco rose from her wheelchair with help from a fellow
supporter to share the story of how marijuana helped ease pain and
other symptoms so debilitating that she considered suicide. The
narcotics she was prescribed made her feel worse, the Chicago woman
said.

"You could be going through something, and would you not want to have
that option? ... Wouldn't you want to try something instead of just
going out without that option to have a better quality of life?" Falco
said. "I beg you. Think about that."

The Illinois House is expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that would
create a medical marijuana pilot program. It would allow physicians
who have an existing relationship with a patient to prescribe
marijuana for certain conditions.

Patients would be limited to buying 2.5 ounces at a time from
dispensaries licensed and regulated by the state. They would be
prohibited from growing their own marijuana, and both patients and
caregivers would have to undergo a background check.

The vote in the House is expected to be close. If it passes, the
legislation still must go to the Senate.

Gov. Pat Quinn said last week his staff members have been involved in
drafting the bill but that he hasn't made a final decision on whether
he would sign it. "We'll take a look at the final product," he said.

Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, and other supporters have been
trying to legalize medical marijuana for several years. A measure
passed the Senate in 2009 but fell short in the House, where just six
Republicans voted "yes." No bill since then has made it to a floor
vote in either chamber. Rep. Tom Demmer, a Republican from Dixon, said
he has sympathy for patients who are seeking a remedy for medical
problems. But he said he's worried about circumventing the Food and
Drug Administration's approval process.

"If somebody came to the House and asked us to pass through a drug
that hadn't gone through FDA certification, we wouldn't act on that,"
Demmer said.

Opponents also say they worry people who don't need the drug will find
a way to obtain it, and that the legislation would open the door to
further legalization of marijuana, as has occurred in places like Colorado.

Dan Riffle, deputy director of government operations for the Marijuana
Policy Project, countered that the legislation is more restrictive
than medical marijuana laws that exist in 18 other states.

But the bigger obstacle for supporters may be the political risks
attached to the legislation, regardless of how restrictive it is or
the fact Democrats now hold more seats in both chambers than they did
during previous votes.

While several Democratic House members said this week the physicians'
endorsement could win "yes" votes from undecided lawmakers, many said
lawmakers who are on the fence may choose not to favor the bill out of
fear that their potential challengers during the 2014 election could
manipulate their vote. They said this vote could easily be
misinterpreted to show lawmakers favoring the bill are endorsing all
marijuana uses, not just its medical use.

Rep. Robert Pritchard, a Republican from Hinckley, voted "yes" in 2011
and plans to do so again. He said while the latest bill has more
safeguards than previous measures, he doesn't believe it will get much
more Republican support than it did before.

"Certainly, the legislature is different from what it was a few years
ago when we voted on this, and in many respects, my side of the aisle
is more conservative, is more law and order," Pritchard said.

Photo: Julie Falco of Chicago speaks at a news conference held by the 
Marijuana Policy Project on Tuesday in Chicago. Falco uses marijuana to 
treat multiple sclerosis symptoms and says she and other patients 
shouldn't be considered criminals for trying to ease their suffering.
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