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If you have a loved one who is seriously ill you want that person to have access to any medication that can alleviate pain.
In 18 states and the District of Columbia that includes marijuana. Illinois could join those states if House Bill 1, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, finally is approved.
We think it's long past time for Illinois to legalize medical marijuana.
Illinois lawmakers have discussed and voted on medical cannabis legislation for years, but a bill never has passed both chambers of the General Assembly. After every failure, lawmakers have increased the number of restrictions in the bill.
Previous incarnations of HB1 were considered the most restrictive medical marijuana bills in the country. HB1 goes even further to keep marijuana out of the wrong hands.
The marijuana would be available only to people with specific debilitating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. There is no general category that could be abused.
Patients would have to have a long-term relationship with a doctor and be required to submit documentation showing they are indeed sick. The information would be sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which would conduct background checks and issue the patient an ID card.
Convicted felons would be prohibited from obtaining an ID card.
Even with a doctor's OK and an ID card, marijuana would not be easy to obtain. There are 102 counties in Illinois, but medical marijuana would be available in only 60 locations. That might mean a long drive for some patients.
The legislation calls for a four-year pilot program. If it doesn't work, or if it's abused, it can be ended.
There are other restrictions in the bill and, because of the increased safeguards, the Illinois State Police has changed its position to "neutral" on the legislation.
Nearly 250 Illinois physicians support it.
"It should be up to physicians, not police and prosecutors, to decide whether medical marijuana is the right treatment for their patients," said Dan Riffle, deputy director of Government Affairs with the Marijuana Policy Project. "Those who benefit from medical marijuana should be able to obtain it legally and safely. Our laws should promote the doctor-patient relationship, not the dealer-patient relationship."
It also would be taxed. Cultivating medical marijuana would be taxed at 7 percent of the sales price per ounce.
The general public supports medical marijuana. A CBS News poll released last year showed that 83 percent of Americans favor allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for seriously ill patients.
A majority of Americans, 52 percent, think marijuana should be legal for recreational purposes, but that's not the issue today.
Today, we're advocating for pain relief for those who cannot find relief in conventional medications. Drugs such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, which can be addictive, don't work for everyone.
Marijuana won't work for everyone, either, but those it does help would be grateful for the opportunity to obtain the medication legally.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: journalstandard.com
Author: Journalstandard.com
Contact: Contact Us - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
Website: Our View: Time to say yes to medical marijuana in Illinois - Top Stories - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
In 18 states and the District of Columbia that includes marijuana. Illinois could join those states if House Bill 1, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, finally is approved.
We think it's long past time for Illinois to legalize medical marijuana.
Illinois lawmakers have discussed and voted on medical cannabis legislation for years, but a bill never has passed both chambers of the General Assembly. After every failure, lawmakers have increased the number of restrictions in the bill.
Previous incarnations of HB1 were considered the most restrictive medical marijuana bills in the country. HB1 goes even further to keep marijuana out of the wrong hands.
The marijuana would be available only to people with specific debilitating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. There is no general category that could be abused.
Patients would have to have a long-term relationship with a doctor and be required to submit documentation showing they are indeed sick. The information would be sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which would conduct background checks and issue the patient an ID card.
Convicted felons would be prohibited from obtaining an ID card.
Even with a doctor's OK and an ID card, marijuana would not be easy to obtain. There are 102 counties in Illinois, but medical marijuana would be available in only 60 locations. That might mean a long drive for some patients.
The legislation calls for a four-year pilot program. If it doesn't work, or if it's abused, it can be ended.
There are other restrictions in the bill and, because of the increased safeguards, the Illinois State Police has changed its position to "neutral" on the legislation.
Nearly 250 Illinois physicians support it.
"It should be up to physicians, not police and prosecutors, to decide whether medical marijuana is the right treatment for their patients," said Dan Riffle, deputy director of Government Affairs with the Marijuana Policy Project. "Those who benefit from medical marijuana should be able to obtain it legally and safely. Our laws should promote the doctor-patient relationship, not the dealer-patient relationship."
It also would be taxed. Cultivating medical marijuana would be taxed at 7 percent of the sales price per ounce.
The general public supports medical marijuana. A CBS News poll released last year showed that 83 percent of Americans favor allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for seriously ill patients.
A majority of Americans, 52 percent, think marijuana should be legal for recreational purposes, but that's not the issue today.
Today, we're advocating for pain relief for those who cannot find relief in conventional medications. Drugs such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, which can be addictive, don't work for everyone.
Marijuana won't work for everyone, either, but those it does help would be grateful for the opportunity to obtain the medication legally.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: journalstandard.com
Author: Journalstandard.com
Contact: Contact Us - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
Website: Our View: Time to say yes to medical marijuana in Illinois - Top Stories - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
