Truth Seeker
New Member
A business owner in Canton is paying close attention as the state Senate discusses House Bill 1, a piece of legislation that could legalize the use of medical marijuana in Illinois.
The man, who asked that his name not be used, has been married for 17 years to a woman suffering from Crohn's disease. He said the couple goes back and forth to Colorado – where marijuana has been decriminalized – and his wife uses marijuana to help her eat, sleep and alleviate pain caused by the disease.
"She cannot function without it," he said. "You don't realize how serious this disease is until you live with someone who has it. (Marijuana) helps her live a comfortable life in everything she does. It takes her pain away."
The bill, officially called the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, passed the House on April 17 by a 61-57 vote, and could get a vote in the Senate at any time before May 31, when the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn.
Peoria Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group Director Rene Sandoval expressed concerns about the bill, and said if medical marijuana is legalized, law enforcement officers will have trouble regulating its use.
"Law enforcement officers are 110 percent opposed to medical marijuana legislation," he said. "We spent a ton of time as law enforcement officers trying to get the word out there to young adults as to the dangers of drugs and drug abuse. This right here sends a totally different message."
Sandoval said the bill's allowance for patients to receive up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days would equate to 183 joints – marijuana cigarettes – distributed every two weeks. He said if a typical user smoked three or four joints a day, it would leave roughly 135 joints for the user to either share or sell.
But Dan Riffle, the Marijuana Policy Project deputy director of government relations, disputed the claim that 2.5 ounces would equal 183 joints, saying the number was closer to 93 joints.
"That's about 80 percent lower than their estimate," Riffle said in an email. "More importantly, 2.5 ounces, with patients prohibited from growing their own, would make the possession limits in Illinois the 2nd lowest of any medical marijuana state."
Still, Sandoval and Washington Police Chief Jim Kuchenbecker maintained that legalization of medical marijuana would stretch already thin police resources even further. However, Kuchenbecker noted he would support the use of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, for medicinal purposes if it could be extracted from the drug.
"But to just go around and start selling (marijuana) and decriminalize it, and to do it under the umbrella of 'it's for medical purposes' is shameful," he said.
How medical marijuana would be used has been a hot topic of debate, and though he was one of 269 physicians who signed his name to a statement of support for the bill, Peoria opthomologist Steven Lichtenstein said its use would need to be regulated.
"I think used for the proper reasons, it is a worthwhile drug to use," he said.
Lichtenstein added that though his specialty is on the eye, he would not recommend medical marijuana for glaucoma use at all, instead advocating its use as a last-ditch pain medication.
"I think it's an excellent drug for pain control when nothing else works," he said.
______
How they voted:
Here's how local state legislators voted on House Bill 1 on April 17 when it passed the House of Representatives by a 61-57 vote.
Voting 'yes': Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria
Voting 'no': David Leitch, R-Peoria; Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg; Norine Hammond, R-Macomb; Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley; Don Moffitt, R-Gilson; Keith Sommer, R-Morton; Mike Unes, R-East Peoria; Josh Harms, R-Watseka
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: pjstar.com
Author: Jesse O'Brien
Contact: pjstar.com Contact Us
Website: Opinions vary on medical marijuana as Senate vote looms - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com
The man, who asked that his name not be used, has been married for 17 years to a woman suffering from Crohn's disease. He said the couple goes back and forth to Colorado – where marijuana has been decriminalized – and his wife uses marijuana to help her eat, sleep and alleviate pain caused by the disease.
"She cannot function without it," he said. "You don't realize how serious this disease is until you live with someone who has it. (Marijuana) helps her live a comfortable life in everything she does. It takes her pain away."
The bill, officially called the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, passed the House on April 17 by a 61-57 vote, and could get a vote in the Senate at any time before May 31, when the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn.
Peoria Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group Director Rene Sandoval expressed concerns about the bill, and said if medical marijuana is legalized, law enforcement officers will have trouble regulating its use.
"Law enforcement officers are 110 percent opposed to medical marijuana legislation," he said. "We spent a ton of time as law enforcement officers trying to get the word out there to young adults as to the dangers of drugs and drug abuse. This right here sends a totally different message."
Sandoval said the bill's allowance for patients to receive up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days would equate to 183 joints – marijuana cigarettes – distributed every two weeks. He said if a typical user smoked three or four joints a day, it would leave roughly 135 joints for the user to either share or sell.
But Dan Riffle, the Marijuana Policy Project deputy director of government relations, disputed the claim that 2.5 ounces would equal 183 joints, saying the number was closer to 93 joints.
"That's about 80 percent lower than their estimate," Riffle said in an email. "More importantly, 2.5 ounces, with patients prohibited from growing their own, would make the possession limits in Illinois the 2nd lowest of any medical marijuana state."
Still, Sandoval and Washington Police Chief Jim Kuchenbecker maintained that legalization of medical marijuana would stretch already thin police resources even further. However, Kuchenbecker noted he would support the use of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, for medicinal purposes if it could be extracted from the drug.
"But to just go around and start selling (marijuana) and decriminalize it, and to do it under the umbrella of 'it's for medical purposes' is shameful," he said.
How medical marijuana would be used has been a hot topic of debate, and though he was one of 269 physicians who signed his name to a statement of support for the bill, Peoria opthomologist Steven Lichtenstein said its use would need to be regulated.
"I think used for the proper reasons, it is a worthwhile drug to use," he said.
Lichtenstein added that though his specialty is on the eye, he would not recommend medical marijuana for glaucoma use at all, instead advocating its use as a last-ditch pain medication.
"I think it's an excellent drug for pain control when nothing else works," he said.
______
How they voted:
Here's how local state legislators voted on House Bill 1 on April 17 when it passed the House of Representatives by a 61-57 vote.
Voting 'yes': Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria
Voting 'no': David Leitch, R-Peoria; Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg; Norine Hammond, R-Macomb; Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley; Don Moffitt, R-Gilson; Keith Sommer, R-Morton; Mike Unes, R-East Peoria; Josh Harms, R-Watseka
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: pjstar.com
Author: Jesse O'Brien
Contact: pjstar.com Contact Us
Website: Opinions vary on medical marijuana as Senate vote looms - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com
