WEEDBLOG

Medical marijuana is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality to the citizens of Illinois. Illinois House and Senate bills filed in 2009 — titled the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act — both call for a three-year legalization of marijuana for patients who obtain a doctor’s approval and suffer from one of a list of conditions or illnesses.

The Illinois Senate bill passed 30-28 last year. And according to State Rep. Lou Lang, could be up for discussion in the Illinois House by January.

Lang said he has two choices: he could either bring up the bill for vote during the November and December veto sessions (which would require 71 votes to pass) or bring up the issue in January before the new legislators take their seats in the General Assembly (which would take only 60 votes to pass).

“I don’t know how a person who is an elected official can ignore the simple fact that there are people in the world who have tried all other means of getting relief from really debilitating diseases and can’t find the relief needed,” Lang expressed. He also contends he has as many as 90 fellow state representatives who support the measure. But up to this point, only 58 are willing to signify that support with a vote.

Longtime area state Rep. Bill Black, claims he’s done a lot of research on the subject but still remains on the fence.

“My initial reaction was no way, it’s just opening the door and soon there’ll be medical heroin,” Black said. “I think it’s a tightly controlled bill. If I can convince myself there is medicinal value to people; Cancer patients that I’ve talked to said it’s one of the few things that alleviate pain.”

Bill Black is retiring in January, meaning if the measure doesn’t pass by then the issue of legalizing marijuana for medical use would fall in the lap of a new group of legislators, including one of two candidates vying for Black’s seat in the 104th District.

Mike Puhr, the Democratic candidate vying for the seat, said he is familiar with the bill and would have no problems supporting the measure.

“This isn’t going to be something like you would buy on the street,” he said, noting that the bill includes measures making it “pretty strictly controlled.”

Puhr knows a man who grows medicinal marijuana in California and said the drug helps not only with pain, but also improving appetite and weight gain in terminal patients.

“This at least relieves some of the misery and helps a person,” he said.

So it appears that Illinois could very well be one of the next states to endorse medical marijuana in the near future. We at The Weed Blog are hoping for good news coming this November or January, and that those in Illinois who need medical marijuana to help them live with their ailments won’t have to wait long for relief.

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by State Representative Bob Flider
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 9:09pm

OK, you supporters of a medical marijuana law are passionate and have taken over my page. So here's the drill. Anyone is welcome to comment, but if you want to comment on this issue (SB1381 and HB2514) on my page, you are welcome to comment on this post ONLY.

My thoughts on medical marijuana are as follows:

First, like the experience of so many families, members of my family have suffered from cancer and have received radiation and chemo. It has been extremely difficult to watch them suffer.

With regard to medical marijuana, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is the only entity in our nation that authorizes the use of drugs. The FDA has not authorized the use of marijuana, so passage of SB1381/HB2514 would require Illinois to get into the drug authorization business. It is my understanding, however, that THC, a substance contained in marijuana, has been authorized by the FDA and can already be prescribed.

I do not know of one sheriff or law enforcement official in my legislative district who supports medical marijuana legalization. In fact, they feel strongly that it should not be legalized because, among other things, they view it as a gateway drug.  I hold these law enforcement officials in high regard.

Repeating, for those who would like to comment, pro or con, you are welcome to do so on this post only. I want my page back.  Thank you.

Follow this link http://www.facebook.com/pages/State-Representative-Bob-Flider/105993312754718 and let your voice be heard!

Posted by Stormy Tetreau

WAND-TV
Aug. 7, 2010

Education Awareness/Protest at Decatur, IL. Celebration 2010

Cook County prosecutors says investigator errors compromised case

An inmate who allegedly received a box of marijuana-filled ballpoint pens from a Cook County sheriff's deputy is facing a felony contraband charge for the transaction.

But, in a dispute over the investigation between sheriff's investigators and the Cook County state's attorney's office, prosecutors declined to charge the deputy who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly hand-delivering the drugs inside the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue.