[420 Girl]

Springfield, Ill. - Illinois' political skirmish over medical marijuana becomes an air war as of today, with proponents launching a television advertising blitz calling for legalization of the drug for cancer patients, Alzheimer's victims and others.

In a Statehouse news conference today, proponents will outline the ad campaign even as it begins airing on network television affiliates in Chicago, Peoria, Decatur, Champaign and Springfield.

The campaign is backed by the national Marijuana Policy Project, which views Illinois as a key battleground in its national push to legalize medical marijuana. A spokesman for the group said Monday the week-long Illinois ad buy is designed to put pressure on state senators who are poised to vote on the measure by the end of this month.

"We do think those 50-some votes in the (Illinois) Senate need to hear from their constituents," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Washington-based group.

State "legislators have tended to be more nervous about this" than the public at large, he said.

Mirken declined to reveal the cost of the ad campaign, saying only that it's "a meaningful buy." It won't include the Metro East area or Southern Illinois markets, he said.

Proposals to legalize marijuana for medical purposes have arisen annually for the last several years, previously making little headway in Springfield. But there has been a sense among proponents that this year might be different.

In Illinois, state Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, a longtime supporter of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, became Senate president this year. And U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has announced his office won't pursue federal marijuana violations against people acting in compliance with state laws.

"We are getting indications that support has increased" in Illinois, said Mirken. He described his group as being "cautiously optimistic" about the legislation's chances this year.

Opponents, too, have noted what appears to be momentum for the measure this year, which has had the effect of rallying the opposition as well. The list of allies against the measure has been growing to include the state Chamber of Commerce and Municipal League, and several statewide police organizations.

"We've got a wide variety of groups" opposed to the measure, said Anita Bedell, director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, a key opponent. She said that's partly in response to the proponents "putting forth a lot of money and resources" trying to get it passed.

The proposal would allow Illinois patients to use marijuana to alleviate chronic pain and nausea when other treatments have failed. The list of conditions includes cancer, glaucoma, HIV-AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn's disease and Alzheimer's.

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