Illinois Senate OKs Medical Marijuana
Last night, after years of work — and months of intense pressure by patients, advocates, and supportive legislators — the Illinois Senate passed a bill that would protect qualified Illinois medical marijuana patients from arrest for the first time ever, 30-28.
But there’s still more work to accomplish before seriously ill Illinois medical marijuana patients can safely acquire and use their medicine without fear of arrest. If you’re an Illinois resident, please help us build on the momentum from this victory and encourage your friends and family in Illinois to do so.
Tagged with: Illinois and legislation and patients by the author
46 comments
Today is the last day to vote this to the top:
Let’s Vote this up to #1:
http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/3191-4049
I voted for it, along with many other marijuana related issues. We need everyone to do their part, it only takes a second!
This is great news!
But last I remember the whole state of Ill. passed a law in 1978 that is still on the books but was never put into place, committee held it hostage I believe?
So if they house and governor don’t pass and approve this MPP should bring out the 1978 law!
None of the writers of this bill know much about horticulture 6 plants for only 60 days?
I have a question. What if you live in a state that has legal medical MJ and you travel around the country because your retired and are living your dream? Can you still take your MJ? If so, how do you get a refill? Im just asking cause this is hopefully what my wife and I will be doin when we are done working…just wondered. Any help Bruce or MPP or anyone?
JJ, since federal law still prohibits marijuana under all circumstances, and the states only allow people certified within the state to possess medical marijuana, you will be treated as a criminal if you travel away from your home state with medical marijuana.
There may be some circumstance where if you claim residence in two adjoining states and are certified to possess medical marijuana in both states, and you drive from one state to the other there may be no violation of state laws, but there will be a big violation of federal laws just by crossing the border that you should not risk.
That said, I can give you no real legal advice and your best bet is to contact a good lawyer.
JJ — So far, the only medical marijuana states with reciprocity (that recognize other states’ cards) are Montana, Michigan, and Rhode Island. Unless you are traveling by water over Lake Michigan, none border Illinois.
This is the kind of boost we need here in Wisconsin. If Illinois passes, then we certainly have a greater chance of getting a bill passed here too.
hoping for a passage in the House…
PUT AND END TO THE WAR ON DRUGS…… I HAVE A SHORT STORIE TO TELL BUT FIRST OFF THANK YOU GOD FOR LETTING ILL. GET A START TO THE PROBLEM THIS IS THE GREATEST THING I HAVE HEARD ALL YEAR!!!!!!! but let me tell you about a freind of mines freind ???. this kid is 20 years old he gets busted ,his house raided , and the cops came up with a pound of weed and take the kid in …? this kid was so scared of what was going to happen that he stayed home from school and shot his self in the head …we attended the funeral today!…,we need to stop this war on drugs becuase it is useless .. weed has growne for thousands of years . it is not going away and it is good medicine try some when your sick to your stomache. you will surely be amazed!!at the results of this plant that could be so usefull in so many ways !! . we are slowleyopening our eyes so if we all unite as on and voice we can change this murderouse war on drugs ..!! jessei james for chairman! hell yes!
In addition to voting YES to http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/3191-4049 and/or http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/2762-4049 vote NO to http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/3161-4049 as it is not only a terrible idea, but the only issue with more votes than either of these two marijuana policy change topics.
I used to favor the tax-and-regulate philosophy, but at this point I am indignant over the whole matter. Look at us, groveling before our elected masters, begging for a modicum of decency in the way they treat us! Dopers are currently subject to the same cruelty and hatefulness that the gays were twenty years ago. We are in the closet, afraid to show ourselves. These hateful laws are by design specifically aimed at a certain segment of society that ‘they’ want desperately to keep under their thumbs. At this point, my thinking is that we need a Personal Freedoms Act that covers anything a person wants to do to their own body (sex, drugs, even death), and anything a person wants to do in their home or on their property. Get the goddamn government out of my house, my bed, my garden, and my piss!!!
Great Work guys! i live in ohio and now I’m seriously considering moving to to illinois because i have crohns disease and medical marijuana has really helped me stay healthy.
anyways great work everyone! keep up the hard work its paying off! and to all the people visiting mpp : Do
*dont forget to e-mail your senators and congressmen
Sell the house, I’m moving to Waterloo.
Does anyone know what this bill would cover as far as someone being able to get it for medical purposes? I live just across the river from Illinois and would move there if if I could get it. Iowa is just taking too long.
I border Illinois as well and Missouri actually has taken some steps in the right directions with Columbia MO decriminalizing it and a SMALL village in South-Western MO has either legalized it or made it cool for medical. I looked at the missouri “legislation” advancement for medical MJ and it hasnt done anything in like 2 years…WHY? If there is anyone from missouri that comes here, please help me vote these assholes out of office!!!!!!!!
Ha! I live in STL to and Illinois is not too far of a drive. Also, I have friends and family in Naperville, Il. I agree 100% with djm. The government has to much power and its getting to the point where I fear for the worst. The government is like a cockroach, if you shine light on them, they will scatter. Someone needs to start a cable netowrk that infroms the people on what their congressman did today and how it will effect them tomorrow.
Vote Dr. Ron Paul, Hope for America is a ballot mark away!
The government is being so hypocritical about not legalizing canabis. why don’t politicians ever listen to scienctist unless it serves thier interests. The government even has a patent on canibis where they say it has medical benefits. Check it out : US Patent 6630507
Tennesseans are voting on SB 1942, decriminalization, NO jail time for possesion but everything else remains the same like the fines up to $2500.00, mandated drug classes. It’s a long ways from comfortable but the key is that the law can be debated and appended within one year of it being voter approved. But, no jail time. : )
[...] WAR ON DRUGS: Illinois Senate OKs Medical Marijuana Slowly but surely, medical marijuana is becoming something that exists in the majority of states in the country. (tags: politics WarOnDrugs drugs mariuana freedom medical medicalMarijuana Illinois legal legislation MPP news articles) [...]
Ok…so I am trying to start something as of today, I like to call SHINE THE LIGHT ON THE COCK-a-ROACH!…I am emailing both my senators and ALL the Representatives in Missouri. I am asking for their official stance on both Medical MJ and all-out legalization of MJ. I will post their responses on this and NORML.com websites. If they dont like MJ for legal, but for medical…Ill vote for them again, as I think people such as that can be swayed for full legalization, but if they tell me that they dont favor any MJ laws, then I WILL VOTE FOR SOMEONE THAT DOES FAVOR MJ…I would like to have at least one person from each state to do the same…so EVERY ONE KNOWS WHERE EVERY VOTE IS COMING FROM!…if they dont agree with us, fuck em..vote their asses to the poor house. We pay taxes so they have a paycheck. I am barely able to walk anymore because of the 8 herniated discs in my back and I am getting more pissed every time i have to take a percocet. I want to smoke MJ instead of take a dam pill thats eventually gonna kill my liver…so Ill get another kind of pain pill…and so forth and so on…anyways, back to the point of this post. Please, just 1 person from each state reply back to me, so we can get something going here!…i dont know if i can post my email on here, can someone tell me yes or no on this site, but if I can, we must come together and take these low life communistic assholes out of their free riding seats in Congress…and take back our rights, our liberty, OUR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on the funny side, that last statement made me feel like Mel Gibson on Braveheart…I need slapped!!!!!!!!
Here in beautiful Asheville,Nc,the state is wanting to close down a sizeable number of prisons,many of them are youthful offender camps.Not one word about eliminating all of the non-violent prisoners of the marijuana wars,however.With North Carolina’s busget in shambles,wouldn’t this make sense?Medical issues aside,this would be a huge savings.What can I do to get this point across?Any suggestions out ther?Thanks.
I E-mailed my senetor and this was his response
“Dear Mr. Harris,
I support medical marijuana legislation.
Dale Miller”
Short, and to the point, but i was a little disappointed that he didn’t write anything else. i don’t know what i was expecting but definitely not a one sentence reply.
wow! you got a response!
I always get a ‘You’re wrong but I will keep your thoughts in mind’ letter.
I dislike Texas…
Let’s put the cartels out of business.
Let ordinary Americans (Illinoisians?) grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
$100 per year for a permit for 12 plants.
Would anybody go for it?
But that’s the point. We’re pandering to the bastards by offering them taxes, permit fees, etc. If that was going to work it would have already in California. I want what I do in my backyard to be sacrosanct, as it should be! We have heard for years now, that we need to call our congressmen! The bastards are all in bed together. We need to get pissed (not an easy thing to do on weed), take to the streets, have massive smoke ins, and exercise our numbers. That, truly, is our only strength. At rock concerts, the pigs have no choice but to look the other way. It’s that way in Alaska now, they just can’t throw their weight around up there on this issue. They are outnumbered. And they are outnumbered down here, too. We need civil disobedience, and we need it bad.
Illinois better continue to act on the positive side of Medicinal Cannabis and Legalization, 0r they will be losing a good resident and my tax dollars about this time next year. I love my state, but no one should fear arrest and career damage over our governments inability to choose science, logic, and reason over religious, political, and narrow minded big business driven laws. I am always doing my part and openly conversing my views of Cannabis and Hemp to family and friends who challenge the topic. America needs to grow up! Thanks to all who are supporting this movement and have contributed in some way. I have contributed the past 3 years and I feel my contribution made a difference. Love of Peace!
I have written the IL governor but im sure my letter wont even be read. I am wondering if there is anything in this bill about the pharmacies. Who can own/run them? Who can grow the nugs for said pharmacies?
http://www.ilga.gov/house/audvid.asp
waiting for the final vote soon……
BOO-YA bout damn time, this country is in a rut and i think the government knows whats up and we will be seeing lots more legislation like this in other states possibly federal level in the near future. F.Y.I yhe newly appointed director of the office of national drug control policy announced that he wants to put a end to the war on drugs. Think copassionate treatment of addicts
reducing the crime rate and oh by the way there is no other drain from our economy that goes OUTSIDE of our country to unfriendly hands than drug money, well besides oil that is. Moving in the right direction ol’ uncle sam keep up the good work.
Obama needs to reinstate the Federal Medical Cannabis program. Period! The new Drug czar, I believe, would support it. I’m so tired of wondering if I’ll be able to afford my medicine, much less pay my utilities, food, health care costs, housing – when will we ever get a break? other than death.
DJM, I think a key to success is going to be show how this is a win for all concerned. More or less every activity in America has some sort of financial hook to make it workable for society at large (think gas taxes for roads, property taxes for schools, fishing permits for wildlife management, etc.). A $100 per year permit for a dozen plants would provide some funding for health programs or education etc., and would be a big improvement over what we have now. (And for what it’s worth, I think we’ll get a better outcome if we steer clear of the name calling. Just a thought.)
So technically Illinois is not marijuana state yet? Or is there still some work to be done?? Like i dont understand if its all legal like california?
Conservative Christian:
Point taken, my apology for strong language from a pissed off mind.
hey conservative christian, here is something for you!…if the average quarter pound costs 400 and there is 4 ounces in it, and you can sell them for 120 an ounce, and lets say, you are one of the buyers, would you pay more than 120 an ounce to smoke pot at ease in your home, legally? I would. And, if we do indeed get it legalized, what type of breeding do you think Amsterdam does with pot? So. With this also in mind, lets say this “hybrid” weed *OH, I BETTER SAY HERE THAT HYBRID WEED WOULD NOT KILL ANYONE JUST WOULD ALLOW MORE THC WITH LESS SMOKED!* is at a street price of 250 an ounce…cause this is great shit…wouldnt you pay 200 an ounce? I would! You could take the sales taxes off all other consumer goods and put it on pot, and I WOULD STILL SMOKE IT!…and I would be happy about being broke, cause at least I wouldnt have to worry about the next person that knocks on my door after I get done smoking. I dont wanna be a person with 8 herniated discs 2 bad knees and carpol tunnel in jail..just dont seem right!
Kenny — Thanks for bringing up an important point. Medical marijuana is not legal in Illinois yet, and patients in that state are still vulnerable to arrest if they are caught with marijuana.
Now that the Senate has passed this medical marijuana, the next step is for the Illinois House to pass it. The legislative session ended May 31, but we still have several chances over the next year or so to get it done, and there’s reason to be optimistic.
But it still won’t be the law in Illinois until the governor either signs it into law or allows it to pass without his signature — in other words, as long as he doesn’t veto the bill.
So there’s still a lot of work to do before qualified, registered patients in Illinois are safe from the threat of arrest for using medical marijuana with their doctor’s recommendation. But the Senate win was a big step in the right direction. — Dan
congrats
djm, you’re exactly right. i wonder what the effect would be if, on july 4th, everyone sick and tired of suffering under this most unjust and ill-founded of policies … built on racist lies, no less! … blazed openly downtown or in the village square or wherever everyone gathers.
if EVERYONE did it, this law would be exposed as the sham and the shame that it is, instantly. but it seems we are not made of that stern American grit anymore…
hey jj…..?I ALSO HAVE HERNIATED DISK FOUR OF THEM PICKED THEM UP SOMEWERE BETWEEN THE HELL THAT RAISED ME AND THE HARD WORK I DID AS A YOUTH …I WAS IN ONE DIRT BIKE ACCIDENT 1993 THEY TOLD MY DAD THAT IF I MADE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT …I WOULD MAYBE MAKE IT TO FOURTY OR FOURTY FIVE IF MY LIVER HELD UP THAT LONG BECUASE THE MEDICATION I WOULD BE ON THE REST OF MY LIFE …1994 PASSANGER BRAND NEW TRUCK PULLING TRAILER PASSED CAR GOING 80 MILES AN HOUR THE TRUCK FLIPPED FIVE TIMES . ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLIP MY HEAD WENT OUT THE WINDOW .THE TOP ,ROOF OF THE CAB OF THE TRUCK CRUSHED MY HEAD AGAINST THE GROUND AND THE TOP OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS FLIPPING . AND IN 1997 I WAS IN A NOTHER ACCIDENT ME AND THE CAR BESIDE ME T-BONED ALADY GOING ACROSS TO THE MEDIAN TO GO BACK THE OTHER WAY. I WAS IN A 1987 LINC. CONT. AND JUST ATE THE DASH BORDE …. TO ALL OF YOU THAT SEE ME HEAR THAT READ THIS OLD JESSI JAMES HAS HAD HIS ASS IN A JAM ONCE OR TWICE BUT I AM STILL BREATHING ….????…WHY I DONT KNOW I THINK GOD WANTS TO SEE HOW MUCH PAIN HE CAN PUT ME THROUGH BEFORE IM GONE…. WE COULDE ALL KEEP GOING ON VACATION TO MEXICO AND BUY THAT GARBAGE CHEAP FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS A POUND ,,(I AM FROM TEXAS BUT LIVE IN wisconsin SO I KNOW MY PRICES I HAVE BEEN SMOKING POT SINCE I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD )(MY SISTER,S GOT ME HIGH THAT THOUT IT WOULD BE FUNNY THEY HAD SOME FREINDS OVER YOU KNOW) BACK TO THE SUBJECT” WE COULD BE GROWING OUR OWN OR GETTING A PERSCRIPTION INSTED OF FEEDING DRUG CARTELS AND TAKING THE MONEY TO JAMAICA AND ALL OTHER COUNTRYS I AM WITH YOU JJ WE SHOULD ALL COME OUT OF THE CLOSET PUT THESE CROOKS IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO WORK FOR US THE POOR SICK FUCKS LIKE US ..! I HAVE SEEN MORE THAN MOST BUT I ALREADY TO PUT MYSEEDS IN THE GROUND.
OH BY THE WAY I AM ON PAIN MANGEMENT AM I A POSSIBLE SUBJECT FOR GOVNMENT TESTING I HAVE THE PAIN AND 24 YEARS OF SMOKING EXPERINCE … I AM SHOCKED THAT YOU HAVE NOT TRYED FENTENALY PATCH INSTED OF ALL THAT PERCACET AND VICODINE WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR STOMACH ASK YOUR DR. ABOUT THAT JJ LOOK IT UP FENTENALY DURIGESIC PATH …YOU CAN STILL KEEP SOME OF YOUR PILLS ..BUT WEED IS THE ONE THAT LETS ME EAT AND SLEEP THE BEST I HOPE THAT WISCONSIN ROLLS THE PAPER WORK THROUGH TO LEGALIZE MJ AS A MED.
“djm, you’re exactly right. i wonder what the effect would be if, on july 4th, everyone sick and tired of suffering under this most unjust and ill-founded of policies … built on racist lies, no less! … blazed openly downtown or in the village square or wherever everyone gathers.”
I’ve observed in reports of mass protests in one day regarding cannabis smoking in both Canada and in America, by and large these events, when the smoking is done by the thousands, yield few arrests (however there’s often a lot of picture taking by LE of offenders).
I don’t see one day having any effect.
Post 19 djm- you put into simple english without reserve the feelings of MILLIONS of us.
I meant POST 11- djm
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