Governor Rewrites Measure, Which Now Returns to Lawmakers SPRINGFIELD - Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday used his veto powers to rewrite a bill aimed at decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, saying the measure that lawmakers sent him would let people carry too much pot and sets fines too low. Rauner said while he supports the "fundamental purposes" of keeping people out of jail and cutting court costs, such a significant change in drug laws "must be made carefully and incrementally." Sponsors of the bill pushed back, saying the changes are "low-hanging fruit" when it comes to reforming the criminal justice system and contending the governor is working against his own goal of reducing the number of prison inmates. [continues 778 words]
While the Chicago Sun-Times' Editorial Board begins commendably enough Thursday by asking Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign the extension for the medical cannabis pilot program, it then asks people who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder to wait an indefinite period of time for relief from addiction and overdosing on opioid pain killers, which are the staples of most regimens of current treatments for PTSD. While the Editorial Board gave some credence to the realities of PTSD, it is not possible to say PTSD exists and then ask people to wait for non-opioid relief for it unless there's doubt that PTSD is a real condition. [continues 175 words]
With every day that passes, it becomes more important that Gov. Bruce Rauner sign a bill resetting the start date of Illinois' medical marijuana pilot program. At the same time, if only to protect popular support for the pilot program, the governor has good reason to veto, for now, a companion bill that would add to the list of conditions for which medical pot can be subscribed. The pilot program was expected to run for about four years, enough time to evaluate whether it helps people who are ill without creating unexpected problems. But due to a number of delays, the program has yet to start, and it is scheduled to end Jan. 1, 2018. The bill on Rauner's desk would reset the start date, allowing the pilot program to get its full run. [continues 316 words]
A state lawmaker opposed to legalizing marijuana vowed to fight pro-pot ballot initiatives expected to be filed today, saying she'll join others taking on state Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, who backs legalizing pot and already has an advance copy of one of the questions. "We all see what opioids do. I don't think we should be adding fuel to the already raging drug issues in Massachusetts," said state Rep. Colleen M. Garry (D-Dracut), who joins high-profile pols such as Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Hub Mayor Martin J. Walsh in opposing marijuana legalization. [continues 278 words]
If you want a bottle of booze in downstate Albion, you have to drive out of town. But the Edwards County town of less than 2,000 residents is the site of a huge medical marijuana farm. The seemingly contradictory situation has led some in town to declare Albion "high and dry." And a local shop has sold dozens of T- shirts with the pithy phrase. "The high is we're growing marijuana here in Albion," Ald. Arrol Stewart said with a laugh. "The dry is two of the convenience stores have applied for a package liquor license, and they were turned down. The city council voted against it." [continues 352 words]
If Mike Bonds had avoided misdemeanor convictions for possession of small amounts of marijuana more than 15 years ago, he believes he might have been able to enlist in the U.S. Navy. The trajectory of his life - which includes a 2000 felony conviction in Piatt County for marijuana possession - might have been altered, said Bonds, who now operates a gutter installation business. That's why Bonds, 36, who lives in rural Mansfield, about 65 miles northeast of Springfield, supports a bill on Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk that would decriminalize possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis. [continues 2397 words]
To the Editor: I am writing on behalf of the epilepsy community in response to the editorial "Medical marijuana program slow to unfold." The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago was heavily involved in passing a recent amendment to the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, adding epilepsy as a debilitating condition, and it is committed to the success of this program, ensuring it is safe and accessible for all patients. There are 3 million Americans living with epilepsy, and more than 130,000 in the Chicago area. Epilepsy is a neurological condition that produces reoccurring seizures, and, in the case of about one-third of those people with epilepsy, their seizures are uncontrolled by conventional treatments. Many individuals, including children with epilepsy, have experienced remarkable results using a form of medicinal cannabis called cannabidiol. Despite the fact that the program was launched Aug. 1, 2013, no one has received treatment. [continues 118 words]
State's Path Similar to Others That OK'd Recreational Use Recent victories at the state Capitol are giving marijuana advocates hope that their ultimate goal - to legalize pot in Illinois - may be closer to reality. With a medical pot program underway and lawmakers voting last month to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of the drug, Illinois is following a path that three other states have taken toward legalization. Alaska, Colorado and Oregon rolled out medical marijuana and loosened pot penalties before approving the drug for recreational use [continues 773 words]
Clergy Sees Laws As Harsh, Involving Race, Fair Housing The marijuana decriminalization bill that could soon go to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk has an array of supporters, including civil libertarians, prosecutors and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Its supporters also include clergy. Protestant pastors and Jewish rabbis are lobbying lawmakers in Illinois and in states across the Northeast as part of a push toward legalization, which they see as a moral cause encompassing issues such as race, fair housing and employment. [continues 751 words]
Bill That Would Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana Is Through the Illinois House and Senate; Decision Now Up to Gov. Rauner Police won't be able to arrest Illinoisans for having small amounts of marijuana if a bill passed by lawmakers gets Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature. On Thursday, the Illinois Senate joined the House in passing a bill that makes possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana a noncriminal offense. Instead, police would issue a ticket and a fine of no more than $125. [continues 663 words]
A state- appointed advisory panel suggested Monday that migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder should be added to conditions that may be treated by medical marijuana in Illinois. But diabetes and anxiety did not receive the backing of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, which met in the Thompson Center. The panel heard from advocates and detractors before board members voted on whether to endorse the use of marijuana to treat each medical condition. A majority vote was needed to garner a recommendation. The state will take the recommendations into consideration before final rejection or approval. [continues 202 words]
State Advisory Panel Recommends That Drug Be Available for 11 New Conditions An Illinois panel Monday recommended allowing medical marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia and migraine headaches, but rejected its use for anxiety and diabetes. The Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board supported the drug's availability for 11 new medical conditions in all, including chronic post-surgical pain, osteoarthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. The recommendations, if approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, would significantly increase the list of conditions for which medical pot can be accessed. As it stands, about three dozen disorders and diseases, including AIDS, cancer and lupus, can be eligible for medical marijuana - though a series of delays have so far rendered medicinal pot unavailable in the marketplace. [continues 740 words]
FREEPORT - While the Cook County state's attorney announced Monday that her office won't prosecute most misdemeanor marijuana cases, there's no such policy shift on the horizon for local prosecutors. State's attorneys in Winnebago, Boone and Stephenson counties said they will continue to offer programs already in place for low-level pot offenders. Anita Alvarez said in Chicago that she also will steer many facing felony drug charges into treatment rather than locking them up. The policy shift will save the county, that includes Chicago, the money it costs to keep offenders in jail, she said. Those facing low-level drug charges will be routed to treatment programs almost immediately after they are arrested, she said. And she added that by reducing the number of days people spend in jail, those arrested may be able to keep their jobs and homes that they could otherwise lose if they're locked up. [continues 445 words]
Claiming that marijuana has a "lethal legacy," as Debbie Leiniger did in her March 7 "My View" opinion is not only specious and spurious, it is akin to declaring that the Earth is flat. Despite all evidence to the contrary. History shows that people have always used intoxicants. In every age, in every part of the world, people have pursued intoxication with plants, alcohol and other euphoric substances. In fact, this behavior has so much force and persistence that it functions much like our drives for food, sleep and sex. [continues 335 words]
Delays, Legal Challenges Send Patients to Streets A year and a half after Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize medical marijuana, Marla Levi is still waiting. Levi has multiple sclerosis, uses a wheelchair and said she ingests marijuana to help her manage the symptoms. If she wants to continue, she'll have to get it on the street because medical marijuana in Illinois isn't expected to be available for several more months. A series of snafus has delayed the rollout of the program. Now lawsuits challenging the licensing process are further complicating efforts, and a judge has granted a court order delaying the issuance of one cultivation license until the mess can be straightened out. [continues 874 words]
It's OK for Illinois Physicians to Get into the Medical Marijuana Business- As Long As They Don't Recommend It to Patients At least three Illinois doctors are getting into the legal medical marijuana business, according to a review of records of the companies recently approved to grow and sell marijuana. The rules say that's OK as long as they don't recommend marijuana to their patients. But physicians' involvement in the medical marijuana industry raises questions about the potential for conflicts of interest. [continues 599 words]
The conflict between the states and the federal government when it comes to legalized medical marijuana may play out in an Illinois court. What is believed to be the first lawsuit regarding medical marijuana licenses in Illinois was filed Friday in downstate Coles County by a business that lost out in its bid to get a license to grow medical marijuana. The business, Shiloh Agronomics LLC contends that the company it lost out to, Shelby County Community Services Inc., was improperly given the license because it is a nonprofit organization that receives tax benefits from the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency. [continues 318 words]
Seventy some years ago in my youth, I learned drugs and alcohol would mess up people mentally, they could harm themselves and others. A high school mate researched the dangers of marijuana and warned us to avoid it and other narcotics. As a young adult, I experienced and saw tragic life-altering effects of addictive drugs, alcohol and games learned to shun them and live a happy life. So, I am aghast at the headline "Pot production raises hopes," and the euphoria over resurrection of Mill Race tax profiteering. I seriously question anyone pushing marijuana as a life-saving medical substance when it cures nothing. Whom besides tax addicts and users insist it is medicine? [continues 202 words]
The prospect of medical marijuana for sale in your Illinois neighborhood may seem unreal. But for a truly mind-blowing experience, even without trying the wares, consider a glimpse at the next step on the legalization continuum: its sale for recreational use. The recreational use of pot became legal in Colorado in 2014. Which means that a ski vacation there now offers an additional kind of adventure. On our recent ski trip to Telluride with friends, my adult daughter proposed that we take a look. Not necessarily a taste; her drug of choice is a gin martini. But why waste an opportunity, she asked, to see a legal marijuana store? [continues 853 words]
Number Below Initial Estimates; Backlog Exists for Businesses' Out-Of-State Checks The number of approved medical marijuana patients in Illinois has reached about 1,000, officials announced this week. While the number remains far below initial projections, it's a noticeable increase from 650 one month ago. "Some people may be waiting until the product is actually available," Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said. That earlier number was "terrifying" for medical marijuana business owners, said Mark Passerini, president of the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association, who had said it's not a sustainable business unless more patients sign up. [continues 195 words]
Rauner Awarding Farming, Selling Licenses That Quinn Didn't Issue The marijuana seeds can soon be planted. In a move that surprised advocates of the medical marijuana program, Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration on Monday announced it would issue most of the coveted licenses to grow and sell the medical product. The move came amid fears Rauner would take months to determine who should be awarded the new state licenses. Patients and medical marijuana advocates lauded the governor for taking swift action on the licenses, allowing the medical marijuana program to gain momentum. [continues 396 words]
Maybe drug cartels wouldn't terrorize Mexico and Central America - our gift to our southern neighbors. Maybe drunks wouldn't kill so many on our highways, or our health care system wouldn't be so overwhelmed and costly. Maybe not so many families would fall apart and our cities wouldn't be bloodstained by gang wars - or so many adolescent lives wasted before they could even get started. Time to face it: We've become a nation of addicts. So many addictions it's hard to list them all. Alcohol. Tobacco, nicotine and vaping on electronic cigarettes. Sugar, fat, junk food. Sex and pornography, the addictions of the mind, body and soul. [continues 589 words]
At the groundbreaking for a charter school in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, Gov. Bruce Rauner slammed his predecessor, saying Pat Quinn has left him plenty of work to do. Asked about how he plans to deal with Illinois' new medical marijuana law, he described it as a "mess" that Quinn had created and "then ran away from." After weeks of anticipation- and in a move that appeared to leave many of his staff surprised and embarrassed - Quinn left office without issuing any licenses to grow or sell medical marijuana in Illinois. [continues 132 words]
Although the state's medical marijuana program remains in limbo, with patients and entrepreneurs waiting for the state to get it rolling, it's not coming cheap. So far, the startup cost has been more than $1.8 million, most of it for computer software, records show. The Illinois Department of Public Health, using money from the dedicated Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Fund, has shelled out nearly $1.5 million to Iron Data Solutions Inc. for the software used to house the registry of patients and caregivers allowed to purchase medical marijuana, according to records from the Illinois Comptroller's office. [continues 414 words]
What a shame that it's not looking good for medical marijuana in Illinois. Illinois became the 20th state to allow medical marijuana under a pilot program approved Aug. 1, 2013. Yet, the process dragged on, and former Gov. Pat Quinn left office without finalizing it. Now our current governor has said, "I'm concerned about the process," so the waiting game continues. Here's why I think the situation is where it is: too many people in Illinois are letting their past ideas about marijuana cloud the issue. [continues 507 words]
Costs Adding Up for Medical Pot Entrepreneurs In the world of medical marijuana entrepreneurs in Illinois, there's plenty of green behind the grass. Hundreds of would-be medical marijuana growers and sellers have put millions of dollars on the line hoping for coveted state permits that were supposed to be issued by former Gov. Pat Quinn by the end of last year. To snag those valuable permits, the entrepreneurs hired consultants, lawyers and lobbyists. They're already paying rent in some cases, or have money tied up in options to buy property. [continues 836 words]
Gov. Pat Quinn created all sorts of mischief in his final days in office, but he got one thing right: He didn't sign off at the last minute on licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois. He left that to his successor, and his successor said Tuesday he's in no rush to act. There is every reason for Gov. Bruce Rauner to be careful about this. The public knows almost nothing about the applicants for the coveted licenses to run 21 growing facilities and 60 dispensaries across the state. [continues 451 words]
The state's medical marijuana czar is staying put as the new governor issues pink slips to some state employees. Bob Morgan, a lawyer and the coordinator of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, is "staying aboard for now," said Gov. Bruce Rauner's spokesman, Lance rover. The news was welcomed by some worried that Morgan would be immediately fired by the Republican Rauner, as he cleans house. The program has already suffered setbacks and delays because former Gov. Pat Quinn did not issue the business licenses needed to get the program going. [continues 201 words]
It's understandable that Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to take his own hard look at Illinois' process for awarding medical marijuana licenses, just so long as it's not a backdoor way to kill the whole program. Much as we sympathize with the many ill and suffering people eager for legally available medical marijuana, this is a field easily exploited, most notably by organized crime, and taking a little more time to get it right is only responsible. Rauner says he wants to make sure the state's medical marijuana pilot program- authorized by a law signed on Aug. 1, 2013- has been properly managed. Fair enough. Our concern is that he doesn't just run out the clock on the current pilot program, due to expire in 2017, and let the initiative die. That would be unfair to the legitimate entrepreneurs who have paid some $5 million in fees for a chance to run a medical marijuana cultivation center or dispensary. [continues 220 words]
Up in Smoke! It's a no! In the wake of Gov. Pat Quinn's exit from office Monday, Sneed has learned he will NOT give a green light to Illinois license applications to cultivate and distribute medical marijuana- and will toss a safety wrench into the marijuana mix. Sneed has also learned Gov. Quinn, who had been urging caution in the state's medical marijuana process, will sign legislation Monday to further tighten the new medical marijuana laws. Under the changes Quinn is signing into law, the Department of Agriculture will have the power not only to revoke marijuana growers' licenses, but also to suspend them. [continues 414 words]
4 Eligible Schools Taking It Slow on Rule in Effect Jan. 1 Illinois universities can legally grow industrial hemp now, but it may be awhile before seeds are planted. A new law, effective Jan. 1, allows state institutions that offer four-year agriculture degrees to research hemp with a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Two of the four eligible schools have expressed interest - the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University. Rob Rhykerd, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State, said research at the school would focus on production and increasing fiber content in the plant. After that, it would be up to agricultural industries in Illinois to take the research and pursue hemp production. [continues 739 words]
Gov. Pat Quinn would not commit Sunday to awarding licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois before he leaves office. Without explanation, the state blew its self-imposed deadline last week to award those licenses before the end of 2014. On Sunday, Quinn said research is still underway. "That will continue until the job is done," Quinn said. "It is a complicated law, and we're working on it as best we can." But in the meantime, patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy are waiting to use medical marijuana for treatment. Entrepreneurs who have invested in the venture are also left in a lurch. [continues 123 words]
Families Say It Works for Epileptic Seizures; Doctors Still Skeptical Chicago (AP) - Randy Gross hopes a new law allowing children into Illinois' medical marijuana program will reunite his family, nearly a year after his wife moved to Colorado so their son could receive a controversial treatment to ease his epileptic seizures. Gross lives and works in Illinois. His wife, Nicole, moved with their two sons so their 8-year-old could legally swallow a quarter-teaspoon of marijuana oil each day. While the medical evidence is thin, some parents - including the Grosses - say marijuana works for their children and they're willing to experiment. [continues 477 words]
CHICAGO (AP) - Randy Gross hopes a new law allowing children into Illinois' medical marijuana program will reunite his family, nearly a year after his wife moved to Colorado so their son could receive a controversial treatment to ease his epileptic seizures. Gross lives and works in Illinois. His wife, Nicole, moved with their two sons so their 8-year-old could legally swallow a quarter-teaspoon of marijuana oil each day. While the medical evidence is thin, some parents - including the Grosses - say marijuana works for their children and they're willing to experiment. [continues 454 words]
While the Illinois Department of Agriculture had planned to select the medical marijuana growing sites by year's end, those plans have changed. Melaney Arnold, the spokeswoman for the state's medical cannabis pilot program, said this week that the state will not be making selections within the 22 Illinois State Police district locations, and she's not sure when those sites will be chosen. "There is no indication as to when that may take place," she said. In District 21, the region that includes Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties, there are five applications under review. Four of the applications are within Kankakee County. [continues 159 words]
State Allowing Food, Liquid Infusions for Qualifying Children Children who live in Illinois will be allowed access to medical marijuana in the new year under rules announced by state officials Tuesday. Those younger than 18 will need permission from a parent or legal guardian, must get the drug through an adult caregiver and will be required to receive approval from their own treating physician and a second doctor. Children may obtain only marijuana-infused products, such as food or liquid drops, and will not be allowed to get raw pot for smoking, under Illinois Department of Public Health rules. [continues 307 words]
Mary Baran suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and wants to legally use medical marijuana, but she said her doctor won't recommend her for the program. She's not alone, according to marijuana advocacy group NORML Illinois. "We've heard from a lot of patients that they just can't get their doctors to write recommendations," said the group's Executive Director Dan Linn. People who apply to use medical marijuana must have their doctor's approval before the state will grant the user license. [continues 190 words]
Despite concern that medical marijuana is a "cash only" business that breeds crime, the City Council on Wednesday squelched - probably for good - a security crackdown that would have required cultivation centers and dispensaries to hire around-the-clock security guards and prevent "public viewing" of pot. Mayoral challenger Bob Fioretti ( 2nd) and his Progressive Caucus colleague Ald. Scott Waguespack ( 32nd) used a parliamentary maneuver to put off consideration of the watered-down security ordinance until the next Council meeting, but the delay is likely to be permanent. [continues 203 words]
Action for Boston Community Development - an anti-poverty organization - is taking a not-in-my-backyard approach to the proposed downtown location for a medical marijuana dispensary. "What I'm concerned about is that it's everybody's backyard," said ABCD president John Drew. "You could probably have situated this shop in a better location. You're talking about in the middle of Boston. . I think it's a prescription for some real problems." The state Department of Public Health last week gave a green light for Patriot Care Corp.'s proposed pot shop at 21 Milk St. in the Financial District to advance to the next step in the process. [continues 106 words]
Though most of the Lake View residents who turned out for a community meeting about a proposed marijuana dispensary opposed it, the East Lake View Neighbors association, sponsors of the meeting, voted to approve a city zoning change that would allow the dispensary to open. More than 60 people attended the meeting Monday evening to discuss a medical marijuana dispensary proposed for 2843 N. Halsted St. Employees and consultants for MedMar Inc., the company that wants to run the dispensary, told the crowd that the location was one of a very few in Chicago that met strict zoning requirements set by both the state and the city for the dispensaries, now allowed under a recent state law. [continues 189 words]
Rauner, Others Support a More Open Process for License Application Since they won the Super Bowl, members of the 1985 Chicago Bears have made second careers out of promoting apple-pie products like McDonald's, Coca-Cola and G.I. Joe. Now, they can add a more countercultural item to the menu: medical marijuana. Emery Moorehead, former tight end for that once-dominant franchise, is part of a business team hoping to sell cannabis under the new state law that legalizes it. Moorehead plans to direct community relations for a group of investors seeking to open a marijuana dispensary in his native Evanston - one of 369 businesses that have applied to run medical pot retail stores or growing warehouses in Illinois. [continues 1134 words]
Regarding John Roska's Oct. 26 column in The News-Gazette Business section, not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but adult recreational use should be regulated. Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences. So much for protecting the children. Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. [continues 64 words]
Superintendent Highlights Growing Problems That Come With the OK of Marijuana Sales Medical marijuana won't be a prelude to legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois if Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has anything to say about it. On the hot seat at City Council budget hearings Thursday, McCarthy went public with his professional misgivings about the sale of both types of marijuana. It happened after downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly ( 42nd) noted that medical marijuana sales were coming to Illinois in 2015, but other states "are taking it even further and going for recreational use." [continues 271 words]
Q: When will medical marijuana actually be available in Illinois? A: Soon, but not yet. Probably early to mid-2015. Some applicants have apparently been approved, and have received the "registry identification card" that certifies they're a "qualifying patient" who can use medical marijuana. And applications for the other two parts of the system - to be a "registered dispensing organization" or a "registered cultivation center" - have been filed. But none has been approved yet. Some applicants will have to be approved, then a cultivation center will have to grow some product. Growing time is reportedly four months. Only then will medical marijuana actually be available for consumption. [continues 402 words]
When I was first approached about having a medical marijuana cultivation site in Metamora, I said we were most likely not interested. My reaction was based on years of thinking of marijuana as "pot," being sold by a drug dealer on a street corner. After doing research, I changed my mind for three reasons. The first was hearing about a 4-year-old boy who had epileptic seizures. Specially grown marijuana that produced the right strain would stop the seizures. I heard about cancer patients who after treatment experienced terrible side effects. With the right medical marijuana, they experienced no side effects. I learned there are 41 debilitating illnesses that can be treated with legally grown marijuana. Metamora is a caring community willing to help those who are in trouble medically. The medicine produced from genetically engineered marijuana could potentially help many sick people improve their lives. [continues 293 words]
Here's what's clear: A marijuana gold rush is coming to Illinois. Here's what's not so clear: How will fundamental conflicts between state and federal laws governing marijuana be resolved? Because until those conflicts are worked out, too much of this lucrative industry will be a cash business, ripe for fraud and organized crime, and nobody-consumers or suppliers-can feel completely safe from federal snooping and sanctions. About half the states, including Illinois, have enacted laws authorizing marijuana for medical use, and two- Washington and Colorado-have legalized it for recreational use. In Los Angeles, a new smart phone app lets medical marijuana users get deliveries right to their doorsteps. [continues 478 words]
Medical marijuana entrepreneurs want to bring their businesses ( and plants) to an Illinois market that could be worth up to $ 1 billion a year DENVER- Outside the warehouse, even from the road, the smell is unmistakable. And once you step inside this unassuming building, across the street from a busy police station in northeast Denver, you can see it, too: About 6,500 flowering marijuana plants, each about 6 feet high, stretching as far as the eye can see. The warehouse is one of several in a thriving industrial zone that forms the center of a gold rush for Colorado's legal weed farmers. [continues 1103 words]
EDITOR'S NOTE: Selling medical marijuana to people with serious illnesses soon will be legal in Illinois. The Sun- Times wanted to see how the process has been working so far in Colorado, a state where it's already legal to sell marijuana to any adult, and focus on a business there that wants to win one of the coveted licenses to grow marijuana in Illinois. DENVER- When a customer seeking medical marijuana comes into the dispensary on Colfax Street, Jamie Murray wants to know: How do you want to feel? [continues 722 words]
DENVER - Illinois won't be anything like Colorado, at least at first. The Centennial State is at the forefront of marijuana policy in the United States. It's legal to use marijuana medically and recreationally. Colorado residents are allowed to grow marijuana in their homes. The sales of both medicinal and recreational marijuana keep rising, according to Colorado data. In August, patients bought $ 32.2 million worth of medical marijuana. "It is a lab. This is an experiment. People can learn from what we've done here," said Colorado State Rep. Dan Pabon, D- Denver. [continues 567 words]
Strip Club Owner's Proposed Dispensary a Hot Topic Chicago's medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries would be required to hire around-the-clock security guards and load and unload pot out of public view, under a preemptive crackdown proposed at Wednesday's City Council meeting. Even before the growing and selling is up and running, Finance Committee Chairman Edward Burke ( 14th) and Zoning Committee Chairman Danny Solis ( 25th) want safeguards in place to protect the public. "We want to make absolutely sure these products are properly protected and that these cannabis-infused products are not out in public view," Burke was quoted as saying in a press release. [continues 277 words]
