Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
The Lake County Council thinks there should be a state consideration of a medical marijuana use law.
A resolution calling for approval was narrowly approved Tuesday.
The council plans to consider another resolution next month asking state officials to enact the legislation necessary to put the question of medical marijuana a on statewide ballot as a referendum questions.
Councilman Jamal Washington, D-Merrillville, introduced the resolution seeking the state legislature to approve medical marijuana use, and was joined by Council members David Hamm, D-Hammond, Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, and Christine Cid, D-East Chicago.
Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, was the lone Democrat to join Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, in opposing the measure. Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, was absent.
Washington said he was seeking immediate approval so the resolution could be in legislators' hands for Organization Day Nov. 22 at the statehouse.
Bilski said his approval is contingent on the second resolution seeking the referendum questions.
"This question should be put to Indiana voters," he said.
Strong said he is opposed to the measure for myriad reasons. First and foremost, he said the measure is not one that should be considered on the county level and should be decided by state legislators. He said he does not support the use of the drug for medical purposes because there is no real way to regulate dosage.
Strong said he has suffered from Crohn's disease for 40 years and when through chemotherapy and radiation treatment this summer after a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. He was offered medical marijuana by his Illinois physician where he was treated but declined.
"I am opposed to the medical use of marijuana," Strong said.
Cid made an impassioned statement in support of passage, saying Indiana is behind the times when it comes to providing access to a drug that has been used for 5,000 years and has many known medicinal purposes. She has seen people she loves suffer from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment and said there is no reason they should be denied access to something that would help. Cid said people should have access to whatever medication is available to ease their symptoms.
"I support this," Cid said.
The measure also received support from the small audience.
Usual county government critic James Nowacki, of Gary, applauded the council's action. Nowacki said it is critical adults are allowed to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare choices and if medical marijuana would help, he sees no reason to prevent its use.
Gary Councilwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, also spoke out in favor of the measure. She said too many resources are spent on preventing marijuana use when in some cases the drug can be helpful.
She recounted how both she and her sister were diagnosed with breast cancer within days of one another. Sparks-Wade said she was stage one and able to avoid chemotherapy while her sister was stage three and needed both chemotherapy and radiation. Sparks-Wade said it was difficult to see her sister suffer.
"This could have eased her pain," she said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lake Calls For State Referendum On Medical Marijuana
Author: Carrie Napoleon
Contact: 312 222-3232
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago Tribune
A resolution calling for approval was narrowly approved Tuesday.
The council plans to consider another resolution next month asking state officials to enact the legislation necessary to put the question of medical marijuana a on statewide ballot as a referendum questions.
Councilman Jamal Washington, D-Merrillville, introduced the resolution seeking the state legislature to approve medical marijuana use, and was joined by Council members David Hamm, D-Hammond, Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, and Christine Cid, D-East Chicago.
Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, was the lone Democrat to join Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, in opposing the measure. Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, was absent.
Washington said he was seeking immediate approval so the resolution could be in legislators' hands for Organization Day Nov. 22 at the statehouse.
Bilski said his approval is contingent on the second resolution seeking the referendum questions.
"This question should be put to Indiana voters," he said.
Strong said he is opposed to the measure for myriad reasons. First and foremost, he said the measure is not one that should be considered on the county level and should be decided by state legislators. He said he does not support the use of the drug for medical purposes because there is no real way to regulate dosage.
Strong said he has suffered from Crohn's disease for 40 years and when through chemotherapy and radiation treatment this summer after a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. He was offered medical marijuana by his Illinois physician where he was treated but declined.
"I am opposed to the medical use of marijuana," Strong said.
Cid made an impassioned statement in support of passage, saying Indiana is behind the times when it comes to providing access to a drug that has been used for 5,000 years and has many known medicinal purposes. She has seen people she loves suffer from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment and said there is no reason they should be denied access to something that would help. Cid said people should have access to whatever medication is available to ease their symptoms.
"I support this," Cid said.
The measure also received support from the small audience.
Usual county government critic James Nowacki, of Gary, applauded the council's action. Nowacki said it is critical adults are allowed to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare choices and if medical marijuana would help, he sees no reason to prevent its use.
Gary Councilwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, also spoke out in favor of the measure. She said too many resources are spent on preventing marijuana use when in some cases the drug can be helpful.
She recounted how both she and her sister were diagnosed with breast cancer within days of one another. Sparks-Wade said she was stage one and able to avoid chemotherapy while her sister was stage three and needed both chemotherapy and radiation. Sparks-Wade said it was difficult to see her sister suffer.
"This could have eased her pain," she said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lake Calls For State Referendum On Medical Marijuana
Author: Carrie Napoleon
Contact: 312 222-3232
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago Tribune
