Illinois an what their doing for med cannabis

[Lilli]

There Are Legal Options To Medicinal Marijuana Use
Posted by CN Staff on March 10, 2004 at 23:33:52 PT
Pantagraph Editorial
Source: Pantagraph

A bill designed to allow the terminally ill in Illinois to grow and legally carry marijuana will probably get the attention it deserves -- none. A House committee heard testimony on the bill, but said it needed more study -- usually a code for saying this bill is going nowhere.
Every few years, similar legislation surfaces. If marijuana was a proven, sole medication to fight the ill effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatments for terminal cancer, we might have a different opinion.

But the medical profession says there are alternatives. And our concern isn't as much with marijuana in the hands of terminally ill people who deserve any assistance possible as it is with the people who would likely abuse the system for personal fulfillment.
(NOTE) Isnt feeling good part of our pursuit of happiness? Why is feeling good abuse. These ppl really piss me off....Lill

Bills pending in the House and Senate would require a physician's permission for a terminally ill person to grow up to six plants or possess one ounce of marijuana. The person would then have to obtain a card from the Illinois Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to be in possession of the marijuana. But there is also a provision for a "caretaker" to have such a card and possess marijuana.

Illinois' history with forged legal documents should say this could be an invitation for widespread abuse by those who use underground connections to get marijuana illegally. That's why police organizations oppose this legislation.

Plenty of evidence, much of it anecdotal, on the merits of using marijuana to combat the ill effects of cancer drugs has been offered. But none that we're aware of has said conclusively that marijuana is the best answer.

There has been plenty of opportunity to provide such evidence in Illinois, despite the federal law forbidding cannabis. For 26 years, Illinois has had a law allowing the state to approve research projects by doctors to produce, manufacture or deliver substances containing marijuana. In that 26 years, there has never been a request, according to spokesman Tom Green of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Based on what we've seen and heard, we cannot support use or possession of marijuana, even for the terminally ill.

Source: Pantagraph, The (IL)
Published: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Copyright: 2004 The Pantagraph
Website: http://www.pantagraph.com/
Contact: bwills@pantagraph.com

Related Articles & Web Site:

IDEAL Reform
http://www.idealreform.org/

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http://wcannabisnews.com/news/thread18436.shtml

Lawmakers Lobbied To Back Marijuana Plan
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18435.shtml

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http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18426.shtml

Marijuana By Prescription Only
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18412.shtml
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