[420 Girl]

House and Senate bills in the State of Illinois were filed in 2009 to legalize medical marijuana. The bills, titled The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, call for a 3-year legalization of medical marijuana for patients who obtain doctor’s approval and suffer from any of a list of specific conditions or illnesses. The Senate bill (SB1381) passed in a close vote of 30-28 in 2009. The House bill (HB2514) may be considered as early as November this year.

The House bill is being sponsored by Representative Lou Lang (Skokie) who says there are two choices in promoting this bill. It could be brought up for vote in November-December during veto sessions or in January just before newly-elected legislators take their seats. In either case, it will be voted upon within the next few months.

Lang is likely leaning towards January as a time to bring up the vote on medical marijuana as elections will be over and the bill would only require 60 votes to pass (versus 71 if brought up during veto sessions). Lang says as many as 90 representatives may be on board with the bill, but only 58 of them are willing to commit to a vote. His office, meanwhile, has received no phone calls whatsoever from constituents who disagree with the medical marijuana bill.

State Representative Bill Black (Danville) is on the fence on the issue. He says he has done research on the issue, but is not sure how he would vote yet. He’s heard concerns from law enforcement and some in the community making him question the idea – which he admits is mainly an emotional issue for voters, not a medical one.

Black’s competition in the upcoming elections, Mike Puhr, says he would definitely vote for the measure.


NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: CannaCentral.com
Author: Aaron Turpen
Contact: Contact Us | CannaCentral.com
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Website:Some Illinois Lawmakers on the Medical Marijuana Fence | Medical Marijuana News | CannaCentral.com


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