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Thursday, May 28, 2009 9:50 PM CDT
Marijuana bill clears committee, heads to House floor



SPRINGFIELD — Marijuana advocates won another fight in the battle to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes Thursday.

The proposal, approved by the House Human Services Committee on a 4-3 vote, now heads to the House floor for further debate. The Illinois Senate approved the measure Wednesday.

The measure would allow certain qualified patients to use marijuana to alleviate chronic pain and nausea when other treatments have failed. The list of applicable conditions includes cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

The legislation also would allow patients to grow three plants in their home. The Illinois Department of Public Health would oversee the three-year pilot program.

State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation, said smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes can be safer than prescription drugs.

“There is not a single case of a person dying from a marijuana overdose,” Lang said.

State Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville, disagreed with Lang’s claim. The licensed pharmacist, who recovered from an addiction to prescription drugs, said legalizing medicinal marijuana would do more harm than good.

“I can tell you that people around the table of Betty Ford (Center) don’t agree with that idea at all,” Stephens said. “If we pass this bill into law, I predict lives will be ruined.”

The legislation is Senate Bill 1381.

Contact Jason Nevel at jason.nevel@lee.net or 217-789-0865.


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kamfong wrote on May 30, 2009 7:20 AM:

" Wow I wonder if the health dept is currently taking apps for the position of overseeing marijuana plants growing,for 3 yrs.That would be an Awsome job. "

 


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