Illinois Senate Passes Medical Marijuana

[Paregoric Kid]

Medical Marijuana: Getting Some Play in Peoria

Radley Balko (http://www.reason.com/staff/hitandrun/143.html) | May 27, 2009, 7:16pm
The Illinois senate narrowly approved a medical marijuana bill today. From the Marijuana Policy Project's press release: (http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/il/illinois-senate-approves.html)
The Illinois Senate passed a bill today, 30-28, that would allow seriously ill patients with certain debilitating conditions to use marijuana for medical purposes if their physician has recommended it.
Okay, so it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of individual freedom. But that a heartland state's senate could muster the votes to get even this through seems pretty significant.

[Papa Verine]

I've been watching this very closely. It will only be approved for serious medical conditions, but if I'm correct, there are also reduced penalties for growing small numbers of plants in this bill. And there will be a way to legally grow if you can get permission. I probably won't get permission, but if growing less then 5 plants is a misdemeanor, I'll be able to relax a little... Maybe even stop worrying about my secret garden entirely. ;)

Oh, and I have a very good friend who has MS. I'm going to have a talk with her about this if it passes the House.

[taj]

yeah, I heard on the news this morning that MS was one of the "approved" diseases the medical marijuana could potentially be used for, which I took as a step in the right direction for others with similar CP issues.

[dharma bum]

Illinois seems more progressive than most states. Remember the governor ( NOT Blogovich or whatever) but gov. Ryan stopped all inmates on death row from getting killed. Here is a quote when he issued a press release:

"I cannot support a system, which, in its administration, has proven to be so fraught with error and has come so close to the ultimate nightmare, the state's taking of innocent life. Thirteen people have been found to have been wrongfully convicted."

Imagine that. Someone in politics who can use reason.

Now this medical marijuana. I love Illinois.

[Papa Verine]

If it does pass the house I'm going to attempt to get approval to grow. It says in the bill anyone who wants to must get approval from the Illinois State Police and the department of Heath. I'm not sure how those 2 agencies are going to handle my request, but somebody has to grow it, if it's going to be available for patients. I'm going to try...

I just found out that now, right now, it is only a misdemeanor to grow 5 plants or less for personal use. Well fuck! I don't worry about misdemeanors. It's not like they're going to stake out my spot with undercover cops, to wait for me to show up at my garden site, only to charge me with a misdemeanor for it. (I have 3 plants there now)

Fuck... I'm not worried at all.

[30_Units]

Always good to see places moving in the right direction.

color me envious

[okie dokie]

good for Illinios....baby step huh, slowly it will spread to everywhere